Introduction

1. Introduction Chapter 1

2. A Behavioral Systems Approach • Combines Dynamical Systems Theory (Chaos Theory) • Behavior Analysis

3. What is Development? • Changes in Interactions • Progressive Changes • Changes Occur Across the Life Span

4. Science is Just One Approach Rembrant: Woman with a Pink (Ca. 1662)

5. The Scientific Method • Systematic Observation • Specialized methods for organizing & summarizing these observations • Formulating & testing hypotheses • Objectivity

6. The Continuum of Scientific Disciplines • Physics • Chemistry • Biology • Psychology • Sociology • Anthropology

7. Metaphors for Understanding DevelopmentSeurat: A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte

9. 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.

10. Dynamical Systems and Developmental Psychology • What is DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY? • Developmental Phylogenesis • Developmental Ontogenesis

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. The Central Role of Learning for Development

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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

19. What Do Developmental Psychologists Study? • Developmental Psychologists as Researchers • Applied Developmental Psychologists • Behavioral Pediatrics • Consultants • Child Clinical Psychologists • Marriage, Child, & Family Counselors