Resources for Developmental Ecological Psychology: Organicism, Epigenetics, Relational Development, Dynamic Systems

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About this Research Topic

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Background

The intersection of Developmental Psychology and Ecological Psychology has been explored in various ways over the last fifty years. Several approaches have arisen that examine development within the context of the physical and social environment, including the ecological approach to perception (James and Eleanor Gibson and colleagues), the epigenetic approach to development (including Gottlieb and colleagues), the contextual approach to development (e.g., Bronfenbrenner and colleagues), interactional dynamic approaches (e.g., Trevarthen), complex dynamic systems approaches to various developmental areas (e.g. Thelen & Smith, Van Geert) and life-span relational approaches to development (e.g., Witherington). Whereas these various approaches have developed relatively independently, they share a common commitment to development as a process between organism and surround, rather than as within the organism. The time has arrived to examine their potential in terms of working out a more comprehensive and coordinated developmental ecological psychology. Steps toward enhancing cohesion will include: 1) examining progress since previous steps toward cohesion (e.g., Dent-Read & Zukow-Goldring, 1997), and 2) elaborating various resources for Developmental Ecological Psychology, however defined, including theoretical and methodological resources.


The goal of the proposed special issue is to bring together researchers from various strands of Developmental Psychology and Ecological Psychology to explore the ways in which these approaches can be coordinated into a more cohesive field. For example, how can studies of infant perception and interaction be placed in relation to studies of children in the landscape and both of these to studies of animal development and the aging of animals and humans? The development of animate organisms is an incredibly broad and complex topic: How can we bring theoretical and methodological clarity to this broad topic? How can we systematically (both qualitatively and/or quantitatively) investigate complexity, dynamics and affordances in the naturalistic environments and interactions in which development typically happens? Our goal is to ask researchers in various fields to consider what are the resources that would further their work, and to consider how these resources might link their field of research to any other in the overall area of Developmental Ecological Psychology.


The themes we would like contributors to discuss include (but are not limited to):

1) What is the role of ecology in your developmental theory and research; and how do you define ‘ecology’?

2) How is your ecological approach central to your work?

3) What resources in theory or method have helped advance your work?

4) What resources do you see that would be helpful in the future?

5) To what extent do you think development and ecology are interdependent

6) What aspect of a different approach might be valuable for your own research?



Types of manuscripts:

Original research, Systematic review, Brief research report, Methods, Review, Theory/Perspective

Keywords: Development, Ecological Psychology, Direct Perception, James Gibson, Eleanor Gibson, Organicism, Epigenetic development, Dynamic Systems

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