Bridging developmental systems theory and evolutionary psychology using dynamic optimization
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Published on: November 21, 2019
Willem E Frankenhuis1, Karthik Panchanathan, H Clark Barrett
1Department of Developmental Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. wfrankenhuis@gmail.com
Abstract:
Interactions between evolutionary psychologists and developmental systems theorists have been largely antagonistic. This is unfortunate because potential synergies between the two approaches remain unexplored. This article presents a method that may help to bridge the divide, and that has proven fruitful in biology: dynamic optimization. Dynamic optimization integrates developmental systems theorists' focus on dynamics and contingency with the 'design stance' of evolutionary psychology. It provides a theoretical framework as well as a set of tools for exploring the properties of developmental systems that natural selection might favor, given particular evolutionary ecologies. We also discuss limitations of the approach.
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