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Introduction
Chapter 1
Novak & Peláez - GDN
A Behavioral Systems
Approach
Combines Dynamical Systems Theory
(Chaos Theory)
 Behavior Analysis
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Novak & Peláez - GDN
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)
Novak & Peláez - GDN
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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Novak & Peláez - GDN
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.
Novak & Peláez - GDN
Dynamical Systems and
Developmental Psychology
What is DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY?
 Developmental Phylogenesis
 Developmental Ontogenesis
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Phylogenic Contingencies and
Ontogenic Contingencies
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Developmental Phylogenesis
• Change is species over evolutionary time
• Phylogenic Contingencies - natural
selection
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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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Novak & Peláez - GDN
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
Novak & Peláez - GDN
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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Novak & Peláez - GDN
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.

Novak & Peláez - GDN
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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Novak & Peláez - GDN
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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Novak & Peláez - GDN
What Do Developmental
Psychologists Study?
Developmental Psychologists as
Researchers
 Applied Developmental Psychologists
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• Behavioral Pediatrics
• Consultants

Child Clinical Psychologists
• Marriage, Child, & Family Counselors
Novak & Peláez - GDN