A term coined by Jaan Valsiner in opposition to simple linear causality or what he referred to as elementaristic causality. It holds that the outcomes of a developing system are not due to one of its elements, but rest on functional relationships between them. As a consequence, if there is a change in one of them, then the whole system changes. Furthermore, these relationships are due to the actions of a catalysing agent, which neither produces effects nor is an immediate part of the system. Nevertheless, its action is a necessary condition for the new outcome to emerge.
See Causality, Circular causality, Constitution, Emergence, General system theory, Law of nature