Transcript Chapter 1
Introduction
Chapter 1
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A Behavioral Systems
Approach
Combines Dynamical Systems Theory
(Chaos Theory)
Behavior Analysis
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What is Development?
Changes in Interactions
Progressive Changes
Changes Occur Across the Life Span
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Science is Just One Approach
Rembrant: Woman with a Pink (Ca. 1662)
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The Scientific Method
Systematic Observation
Specialized methods for organizing &
summarizing these observations
Formulating & testing hypotheses
Objectivity
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The Continuum of Scientific
Disciplines
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology
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Metaphors for Understanding
Development
Seurat: A Sunday Afternoon on the
Isle of La Grande Jatte
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Levels of Understanding
Development: Reductionism
and Anti-reductionism
Reductionism
• Analyzing at a lower level of explanation
• e.g., Using biological explanations to
analyze a psychological issue (e.g.,
ADHD,dyslexia).
Antireductionism
• Maintaining the analysis at the appropriate
level.
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Dynamical Systems and
Developmental Psychology
What is DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY?
Developmental Phylogenesis
Developmental Ontogenesis
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Phylogenic Contingencies and
Ontogenic Contingencies
Developmental Phylogenesis
• Change is species over evolutionary time
• Phylogenic Contingencies - natural
selection
Developmenal Ontogenesis • Change in individual over lifespan
• Ontogenic Contingencies - learning
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Developmental Ontogenesis
and Dynamical Systems
Person/Environment Relations
These relations are constantly
changing
Effects are reciprocal
Multiple influences
Development is nonlinear
Multiple directions of outcomes
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Development Is Analyzed at
Different Levels of Systems
Level 1: Basic Processes
Level 2: (Emergent & Organized)
Patterns of Behavior
Level 3: Social Interactions
Level 4: Society & Culture
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The Central Role of Learning for
Development
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Learning and Evolution – Why
learning ability should evolve
Animals with Fixed Action Patterns
cannot adapt to changes in environment
Learning enables adaptation to changes
in environmental contingencies.
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Learning & Evolution are Parallel
Processes:
Learning – Behavior changes appear in
individuals due to selection by
environmental consequences in
individual’s experiences.
Evolution – Structural changes appear
in species due to selection by
environmental consequences (natural
selection) for the species.
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Learning is THE Process in Most
Human Development
Inherited biological structures contribute
to development.
The role of learning in the development
of some behaviors (e.g., reflexes,
perceptual abilities) is less.
For most behaviors, learning is the
central process in their development.
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Learning Defined:
“A relatively permanent change in
behavior in relation to the environment
that is due to experience.”
Change in behavior-environment
relationship.
The change is relatively permanent
The change is due to experience
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What Do Developmental
Psychologists Study?
Developmental Psychologists as
Researchers
Applied Developmental Psychologists
• Behavioral Pediatrics
• Consultants
Child Clinical Psychologists
• Marriage, Child, & Family Counselors
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