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Developmental Theory. Chapter 2. The Importance of Theories. Organize & bring Coherence to views Worldviews – overarching viewpoints that bias our observations Pepper’s Worldviews Mechanistic Organismic Contextualistic (Behavioral Systems Theory). Dimensions on Which Theories Differ.
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Developmental Theory Chapter 2 Novak & Pelaez
The Importance of Theories • Organize & bring Coherence to views • Worldviews – overarching viewpoints that bias our observations • Pepper’s Worldviews • Mechanistic • Organismic • Contextualistic (Behavioral Systems Theory) Novak & Pelaez
Dimensions on Which Theories Differ • Structure vs. function • Description vs. explanation • Nature vs. nurture • Continuity vs. discontinuity Novak & Pelaez
Dimensions on Which Theories Differ • Description versus Explanation • Explanation • Prediction • Control • Circular Explanations • Reification Putting the cause inside the child Behaviors become explanations e.g., dyslexia; autism • Real Explanations • “Under what conditions?” not Why? Novak & Pelaez
Nature versus Nurture • False Dichotomy • “How” do nature and nurture interact • Not “How Much?” • Nature & nurture are both a function of selection by consequences (Skinner) • Nature & nurture are not causes but processes and products (Oyama). Novak & Pelaez
Judging Developmental Theories - Nine Criteria • 1) Accuracy • 2) Clarity • 3) Predictability • 4) Practicality • 5) Internal Consistency • 6) Parsimony • 7) Testable • 8) Productivity • 9) Self-Satisfying Novak & Pelaez
Group Research Designs in Studying Behavioral Development • Cross-sectional • Problems- Cohort Effects • Longitudinal • Problems- • Practice Effects • Selective Attrition • Sequential – Combination of Cross-Sectional & Longitudinal Novak & Pelaez
The problem with using age as a variable • Age is an empty variable • Focus should be on the process variables that produce behavior and are correlated with age. Novak & Pelaez
Behavioral research methods – Single Subject Designs • Functional Analysis- manipulate variables to see cause-effect relations. Novak & Pelaez
Behavioral Research Designs • ABAB reversal design • Multiple-treatments (alternating treatments) design • Multiple treatments designs • Changing Criterion designs • Combined within & between subjects designs Novak & Pelaez
ABehavioral Systems Approach Novak & Pelaez
Transaction of 5 Factors • Genetic-Constitutional Make-up • History of Interactions • Current Physiological Conditions • Current Environmental Conditions • Behavioral Dynamics Novak & Pelaez
Principles of Dynamical Systems • Multiple Determination • Multiple Determination means Equifinality • Models of Development • Nonlinearity • Phase Shifts = Developmental Stages • Coalescent Organization • Selectionism • Behavioral Attractor States • Developmental Trajectories Novak & Pelaez
Multiple Determinism • Transaction of 5 Factors • Sensitivity to Initial Conditions - Butterfly Effect • Leading Parts - Disproportionate Influence • “Impossible” to predict outcomes • Equifinality is the norm Novak & Pelaez
Equifinality ` Novak & Pelaez
Models of Development Novak & Pelaez
Linear Model Novak & Pelaez
Transactional Model A B Novak & Pelaez
Nonlinear Model Novak & Pelaez
Emergent Properties & Phase Shifts • Sudden, nonlinear changes (e.g., A to X) • Qualitative Difference • Result of Coalescent Organization • Result is “Organized” • When Universal, called “Stage” Novak & Pelaez
Coalescent Organization • Multiple Determinants • Coming together of all conditions leads to reorganization of organism/behavior Novak & Pelaez
Selectionism: Organization by Consequences • Phylogenic Selection – Changes in species • Ontogenic Selection – Changes in individuals (learning) • Cultural Selection – Changes in cultures • Any selection requires variability Novak & Pelaez
Selectionism - 3 Requirements • Variability (Response Classes) • Selection • Ontogenic - Natural Selection • Phylogenic - contingencies of learning • Retention (Physiology) Novak & Pelaez
Behavioral Attractors • Organized patterns of behavior • “Soft” (loose) assemblies • Assembled by Consequences • Form (Structure) follows Function Novak & Pelaez
Developmental Trajectories • Behavioral Momentum • Stability vs. Phase Shifts Novak & Pelaez
“Behavioral Cusps” not “Stages” • Cusps are important new behaviors that emerge that enable the development of many other behaviors. (e.g., walking; reading). Novak & Pelaez
An Organism-Environment Model (Horowitz, 1987) • Organismic Dimension • Impaired to unimpaired • Vulnerable to nonvulnerable • Environment Dimension • Non-facilitative to facilitative Novak & Pelaez
The transaction of organismic & environmental variables produces • Developmental Outcome • Minimal to Optimal Novak & Pelaez