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Introduction. Chapter 1. A Behavioral Systems Approach. Combines Dynamical Systems Theory (Chaos Theory) Behavior Analysis. What is Development?. Changes in Interactions Progressive Changes Changes Occur Across the Life Span. Science is Just One Approach.
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Introduction Chapter 1
A Behavioral Systems Approach • Combines Dynamical Systems Theory (Chaos Theory) • Behavior Analysis
What is Development? • Changes in Interactions • Progressive Changes • Changes Occur Across the Life Span
Science is Just One Approach Rembrant: Woman with a Pink (Ca. 1662)
The Scientific Method • Systematic Observation • Specialized methods for organizing & summarizing these observations • Formulating & testing hypotheses • Objectivity
The Continuum of Scientific Disciplines • Physics • Chemistry • Biology • Psychology • Sociology • Anthropology
Metaphors for Understanding DevelopmentSeurat: A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte
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.
Dynamical Systems and Developmental Psychology • What is DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY? • Developmental Phylogenesis • Developmental Ontogenesis
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
What Do Developmental Psychologists Study? • Developmental Psychologists as Researchers • Applied Developmental Psychologists • Behavioral Pediatrics • Consultants • Child Clinical Psychologists • Marriage, Child, & Family Counselors