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The role of immaturity in human development
1Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton 33431, USA. bjorkldf@fau.edu
Psychological Bulletin
|September 1, 1997
Summary
Developmental immaturity in children, once seen as a deficit, is explored as an adaptive trait through evolutionary theory. This perspective suggests that immature behaviors and cognition played a crucial role in human evolution and development.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Developmental Biology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Traditionally, infant and child immaturity is viewed as a developmental deficit.
- Evolutionary theory offers a new lens to understand these immature traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the adaptive nature of immature behaviors and cognitions in infants and young children.
- To interpret these immature traits within an evolutionary framework.
Main Methods:
- Review of evolutionary theory applied to child development.
- Examination of developmental retardation in human evolution.
- Analysis of extended childhood and brain plasticity.
- Exploration of behavioral neoteny (e.g., play) and its adaptive value.
- Assessment of limited information processing in infants as potentially adaptive.
Main Results:
- Developmental immaturity likely played an adaptive role in human evolution.
- Extended childhood in humans is linked to enhanced brain plasticity.
- Infant perception and cognition limitations may serve adaptive functions.
- Immature cognitive aspects in early childhood can offer contemporaneous adaptive value.
Conclusions:
- Viewing developmental immaturity as adaptive offers a novel perspective on child development.
- This evolutionary viewpoint reframes our understanding of children and their developmental processes.