A Behavioral Systems Approach

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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 DevelopmentSeurat 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
  individuals 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 DefinedA 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