The dynamics of development and evolution: Insights from behavioral embryology

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The perspective that features of species-typical behavior could be traced to experience that occurred prenatally was raised by Zing-Yang Kuo [1921 Journal of Philosophy 18: 645-664] early in the last century and Gilbert Gottlieb subsequently elaborated on and provided empirical support for this idea over the course of more than four decades of innovative psychobiological research. Although we are still a long way from fully understanding the specific pathways and processes by which prenatal experience can influence postnatal development, Gottlieb's research with precocial birds provided significant insights into the conditions and experiences of prenatal development involved in the achievement of speciestypical perception and behavior. In particular, his elegant series of studies on the development of species identification in ducklings documented how the features and patterns of recurring prenatal sensory experience (including self-stimulation) guide and constrain the young individual's selective attention, perception, learning, and memory during both prenatal and postnatal periods. I review how this body of research supports the view that the structure and functions of the developing organism and its developmental ecology together form a relationship of mutual influence on the emergence, maintenance, and transformation of species-typical behavior. I also explore how Gottlieb's empirical demonstrations of the prenatal roots of so-called ''instinctive'' behavior provided a foundation for his conceptual efforts to define the links between developmental and evolutionary change. ß 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 749-757, 2007.

The Biological Implausibility of the Nature-Nurture Dichotomy and What It Means for the Study of Infancy

“…It is time to shift our focus to the processes question. This shift requires that we adopt a developmental systems approach pioneered by Schneirla and Kuo and later championed by Lehrman, Gottlieb and others (Lickliter, 2007; Turkewitz, 1987). This general approach has spawned a number of variants such as probabilistic epigenesis (Gottlieb, 1998; Gottlieb et al., 2006; Kuo, 1967; Schneirla, 1957), transactionalism (Sameroff & Chandler, 1975), dynamical systems (Thelen & Smith, 1994), and developmental contextualism (Lerner & Kaufman, 1985).…”

“…This general approach has spawned a number of variants such as probabilistic epigenesis (Gottlieb, 1998; Gottlieb et al., 2006; Kuo, 1967; Schneirla, 1957), transactionalism (Sameroff & Chandler, 1975), dynamical systems (Thelen & Smith, 1994), and developmental contextualism (Lerner & Kaufman, 1985). All developmental systems views acknowledge the complexity of the developmental process, eschew any simplistic notions of causality and the kinds of reductionism that nativists practice, and advocate for a focus on process (Blumberg, 2008; Gottlieb, 1976, 1991b, 1992, 1997, 1998; Griffiths & Gray, 1994; Johnston & Edwards, 2002; Keller, 2000; Kuo, 1967; Lehrman, 1953, 1970; Lickliter, 2007; Mameli & Bateson, 2006; Michel & Moore, 1995; Moore, 2003; Oyama, 2000; Schneirla, 1957; Spencer, Blumberg, et al., 2009).…”

Sources of Systems Thinking in School Leadership

“…Thus, dichotomy between natural talent and acquired ability is incompatible with the concepts of systems thinking, and when looking for the origins of individual differences, the focus should be on developmental processes rather than on the separation between natural talent and acquired ability. Instead of dichotomizing behavioral capacities into those that are innate and those that are learned, personal development through the influence of one factor in the context of other factors should be emphasized (Blumberg, 2008;Lewkowicz, 2011;Lickliter, 2007;Spencer et al, 2009), as summarized in Figure 2.…”

Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo): Past, Present, and Future

“…& Evo-devo-niche construction links development to the evolutionary role of organisms constructing essential elements of their niche such as nests or tunnels (Laland et al 2008). & Behav-evo-devo is the use of evolutionary developmental mechanisms to explain the origins of behaviors, learning, and language (Lickliter 2007;Bertossa 2011;Hoang et al 2011;Hall 2012). & Evo-devo-medicine is the application of evo-devo to medical practice (Gluckman et al 2009).…”