Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2025
08:01
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
Published on: October 28, 2020
5.8K
The Shared Origins of Embodiment and Development.
Peter J Marshall1, Troy M Houser1, Staci M Weiss2
1Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
|September 6, 2021
Summary
Embodiment, the study of the body
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Philosophy of Embodiment
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Embodiment is a complex concept involving the body's form, engagement with the world, and lived experience.
- Existing frameworks often treat these aspects separately, limiting a holistic understanding.
- A unified view of embodiment is crucial for understanding biological development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the deep connections between embodiment and development.
- To utilize a framework that bridges the form, engagement, and lived experience of the body.
- To reframe the study of development through the lens of embodiment.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis integrating philosophical and biological perspectives.
- Examination of the evolution of multicellularity and metazoan bodies.
- Application of a framework connecting body form, engagement, and lived experience.
Main Results:
- Embodiment is intrinsically linked to the evolution of development, starting from multicellularity.
- Metazoan (animal) bodies, with their sensorimotor capacities, exemplify a specific form of embodiment.
- All living organisms exhibit self-determination, a fundamental aspect of embodiment and autonomy.
Conclusions:
- Embodiment provides an integrative framework for understanding development across all living things.
- Moving beyond mechanistic metaphors, embodiment emphasizes the primacy of lived experience.
- This perspective fosters interdisciplinary collaboration for a novel scientific vision of development.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
46
Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
46
01:24Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game
34
The development of self in children is deeply rooted in social interactions, mainly through stages of play and structured games. These stages, outlined by sociologist George Herbert Mead, illustrate how children progressively learn to understand and adopt social roles, forming a cohesive sense of self.The Play Stage: Imitation and Simple Role-TakingIn the early years of childhood, the play stage is characterized by imitative behavior, where children engage in role-playing based on familiar...
34
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
36
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
36
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
114
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
114
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
201
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
201
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
44
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
44