<p>These should get you started, relating to spontaneous behaviour of humans in society, in contrast to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normality_%28behavior%29#Definitions" rel="nofollow">normality behaviour</a>:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nzwBBQAAQBAJ" rel="nofollow">Spontaneous Alternation Behavior</a> by W.N. Dember, C.L. Richman</li>
<li><a href="http://phys.org/news/2013-08-complex-behavior-spontaneously-emerge-brain.html" rel="nofollow">How does complex behavior spontaneously emerge in the brain?</a> - Lisa Zyga</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140313/srep04312/full/srep04312.html" rel="nofollow">Brain modularity controls the critical behavior of spontaneous activity</a> - R. Russo, H. J. Herrmann  &amp; L. de Arcangelis</li>
<li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/200903/the-wisdom-spontaneity-part-1" rel="nofollow">The Wisdom of Spontaneity (Part 1)</a> - Leon F Seltzer Ph.D</li>
<li><a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00987461" rel="nofollow">Identification of spontaneous and deliberate behavior</a> - Vernon L. Allen, Michael L. Atkinson</li>
<li><a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/com/35/3/237/" rel="nofollow">Some factors influencing spontaneous alternation in human subjects</a> - Wingfield, R. C.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-06T20:14:31.110Z
Thanks a lot for the start, its rather hard for me because I do not have many categories for psychological knowledge when looking for references.
Greg P.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-06T14:30:22.907Z
2015-05-06T14:30:22.907Z
Leo
<p>What are known studies, experiments, thoughts and literature on spontaneity? I am looking for anything relating to questions like "What does it mean for someone to be spontaneous?" or "What factors are involved in being spontaneous?" or anything else.</p>

<p>EDIT: aspects of creativity, improvisation in the arts are not meant, but spontaneity in the way of life or in daily behavior. Excuse being unprecise.</p>

<p>I appreciate any hints.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-05T01:52:43.743Z
Thank you for your question! It's currently very broad and may be difficult to answer. Is there an aspect of spontaneity that you are particularly interested in? Your follow up questions seem to focus on how spontaneity is defined (as opposed to what spontaneity predicts, how it impacts peoples' lives, etc). Can you edit your question to clarify what aspects of spontaneity you are interested in? Thanks!
user30295
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-05T06:08:45.590Z
Agreed. Are you talking about spontaneity in a creative sense, or in an impulse sense, or what? (Please don't say all of the above.)
Christian Hummeluhr
<reference-request><terminology>
Spontaneity as object of investigation in the cognitive sciences
Greg P.
# Spontaneity as object of investigation in the cognitive sciences

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-04)

What are known studies, experiments, thoughts and literature on spontaneity? I am looking for anything relating to questions like "What does it mean for someone to be spontaneous?" or "What factors are involved in being spontaneous?" or anything else.

EDIT: aspects of creativity, improvisation in the arts are not meant, but spontaneity in the way of life or in daily behavior. Excuse being unprecise.

I appreciate any hints.

**Tags:** reference-request, terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Thank you for your question! It's currently very broad and may be difficult to answer. Is there an aspect of spontaneity that you are particularly interested in? Your follow up questions seem to focus on how spontaneity is defined (as opposed to what spontaneity predicts, how it impacts peoples' lives, etc). Can you edit your question to clarify what aspects of spontaneity you are interested in? Thanks!  
> **username_2**: Agreed. Are you talking about spontaneity in a creative sense, or in an impulse sense, or what? (Please don't say all of the above.)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-05-06. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

These should get you started, relating to spontaneous behaviour of humans in society, in contrast to [normality behaviour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normality_%28behavior%29#Definitions):

* [Spontaneous Alternation Behavior](https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nzwBBQAAQBAJ) by W.N. Dember, C.L. Richman
* [How does complex behavior spontaneously emerge in the brain?](http://phys.org/news/2013-08-complex-behavior-spontaneously-emerge-brain.html) - Lisa Zyga
* [Brain modularity controls the critical behavior of spontaneous activity](http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140313/srep04312/full/srep04312.html) - R. Russo, H. J. Herrmann & L. de Arcangelis
* [The Wisdom of Spontaneity (Part 1)](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/200903/the-wisdom-spontaneity-part-1) - username_3n F Seltzer Ph.D
* [Identification of spontaneous and deliberate behavior](http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00987461) - Vernon L. Allen, Michael L. Atkinson
* [Some factors influencing spontaneous alternation in human subjects](http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/com/35/3/237/) - Wingfield, R. C.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks a lot for the start, its rather hard for me because I do not have many categories for psychological knowledge when looking for references.  

---

