SOCIOLOGY OF INTEGRATIVE SOCIAL-NEURAL NETWORK INTERACTION

This essay presents a theoretical and methodological framework for a new scholarly field – the sociology of integrative socio-neural network interaction. Since this topic is new and discursive, the following is preliminarily considered: trend toward expanding the subject field of sociology, relationship between the concepts of “neural network agency” and “artificial intelligence”, conceptualization of “hybrid vs. integrative” sociality, and signs of the institutionalizing integrative socio-neural network interaction. Thus, sociology of integrative socio-neural network interactions being developed might be classified as a mid-range theory. The object of the new theory’s research is the integrative transformational practices of interaction between people and neural network systems. The subject area is defined as identifying specific mechanisms and processes within these relationships with an analysis of their impact on the social environment. The goal and objectives of the new theory, levels of analytical transitions, key concepts, and possibilities for their operationalization are formulated. Methodological resources for testing theoretical concepts are clarified, and cases of hypotheses for empirical analysis are offered. Prospects for multidisciplinary analysis and scenario development of integrative socio-neural network interaction are also presented.