The Complexity of Relationship

Dr. Richard Spaulding discuss relattionships and how complex they can be.  Complexity characterises the behaviour of a system or model whose components interact in multiple ways and follow local rules, meaning there is no reasonable higher instruction to define the various possible interactions.[1]

The stem of the word "complexity" - complex - combines the Latin roots com (meaning "together") and plex (meaning "woven"). Contrast "complicated" where plic (meaning "folded") refers to many layers. A complex system is thereby characterised by its inter-dependencies, whereas a complicated system is characterised by its layers.

Complexity is generally used to characterize something with many parts where those parts interact with each other in multiple ways, culminating in a higher order of emergence greater than the sum of its parts. Just as there is no absolute definition of "intelligence", there is no absolute definition of "complexity"; the only consensus among researchers is that there is no agreement about the specific definition of complexity. However, "a characterization of what is complex is possible".[2]