Bjorklund synthesizes promising research directions in developmental psychology using an evolutionary framework. In general terms, we agree with Bjorklund: Evolutionary theory has the potential to serve as a metatheory for developmental psychology. However, as currently used in psychology, evolutionary theory is far from reaching this potential.…

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…

Comments on the potential importance for developmental theory of recent advances in the thermodynamics of "self-organizing" systems by Ilya Prigogine and the Brussels School. Implications of the concepts of classical and modern thermodynamics of structural development for an understanding of psychological evolution and development are…

Haroutunian defends points made in a paper (Educational Theory v30 n3) relating Jean Piaget's conception of knowledge to his biological view of equilibrium in response to criticism by William E. Doll, Jr. (Educational Theory, v31 n2). Haroutunian asserts that Piaget's theories permit evolutionary change only by chance mutation. (PP)

Offers a commentary on five contributions to recent developments in the study of cognitive development that have been selected for this special issue. The relevance of each author's paper to issues that are central to cognitivists today and post-Piagetian developmental psychologists is discussed, and the overall need of evolutionary models to…

Describes evolutionary developmental psychology as the study of the genetic and ecological mechanisms that govern the development of social and cognitive competencies common to all human beings and the epigenetic (gene-environment interactions) processes that adapt these competencies to local conditions. Outlines basic assumptions and domains of…

This book presents an integrated theory of cognitive development in infancy and early childhood, emphasizing the role of language in memory, processing narratives, forming concepts, and understanding others' intentions. Chapter 1, "Language, Cognition, and Culture in Developmental Perspective," presents the experiential theoretical…