Questions to consider:

 

"How We Are " : The Mechanistic Perspective

 

Summary of Primary Characteristics

- Behavior and behavioral change are naturally occurring, universal, lawful phenomena

- It is possible to use objective, neutral empirical research strategies to study these phenomena

- Behavior and behavioral change are caused by one or more material/and/or efficient causes

- The influence of each efficient and/or material cause can be known independent of all others

- The process of behavioral change over time is best understood as a quantitative process involving the increasing complexity of a set of basic elements common to all age groups

Discussion Question 1:

Pepper's (1961) metaphor for the mechanistic perspective is the machine, where each component of the "machine" exists independently. More specifically, one of the defining characteristics of the mechanistic perspective is the idea that it is possible to tease apart the various factors that influence behavioral change and, having done so, to assign an independent level of importance to each in precise quantitative terms. Even, so, it may seem strange to include developmental geneticists in the same discussion as behaviorists and learning theorists. In what ways do these different approaches represent a mechanistic perspective on development? Where and in what ways do these approaches differ?

Discussion Question 2:

Basic to all theory within the mechanistic view is the notion that observation and theory are distinct. Observations (facts) are not theories or value laden comments. Rather, they represent objective, factual reporting of events. As Kitchener (1983) states,

"Scientists...simply open their eyes and directly (non-inferentially) observe what is directly and immediately present to their senses. No interpretation of inferences beyond what is immediately given (the data) is involved in observing something, and to allow such theoretical interpretations into one's observations (or data language) would be to contaminate a neutral observation (or observation report)." (p.5)

 Evaluate this statement in the context of the readings for this week. How objective are the data and discussion of the data in the research studies presented and/or cited?

Discussion Question 3:

Under the mechanistic perspective, once "objective" data have been collected, theory becomes the process of offering a plausible and testable explanation for the observed behaviors. These theoretical interpretations take two forms. In one case, they link one or more primary qualities of behavior to specific antecedent conditions (for example, the child behaves in a certain way because of the way the parent behaves; the adult works harder because the company rewards productivity with salary increases).

In the other case, internal mechanisms are hypothesized as a mediating link in the chain between antecedent cause and subsequent behavior. These internal, mediating events are not seen as causing the behavior in the same way as above (the efficient cause), but, rather, they are the physiological, neurological, or genetic factors that make the behavior possible (material cause). In either case, a direct link is made between the cause and the effect.

 In your readings, what are the ways in which these direct links between cause and behavior are demonstrated?

Discussion Question 4:

Related to the question above - secondary qualities (e.g., feelings, motives, aspirations, etc.), are often of little interest to mechanists, because they cannot be directly observed or reliably inferred, measured, or located. Mechanists would not argue that that people don't experience these things. however, they argue that secondary qualities are best studied and understood by focusing on behavioral change and the efficient and material causes of this change. Not surprisingly, this statement does not sit well with theorists and researchers with other worldviews. How could secondary qualities play a role in the behaviors described and examined in the readings for this week? In what contexts might secondary qualities be as important or even more important than primary (behavioral) characteristics? How might these qualities be particularly relevant for adolescents?

Discussion Question 5:

Mechanists believe that an advantage to their perspective is that it allows for the discovery of universal laws. In particular, they argue that all behavior, from the simple to the most complex, is regulated by the same factors. They make this argument, because they take a reductionist approach - that all behaviors comprise the same basic elements (they differ only in the number of elements present in each and the arrangement of those elements). As such, is we understand the forces that regulate the elementary behaviors of the infant, we also, theoretically, understand the more complex behavior patterns of adolescents. (Interestingly, but not surprisingly, more mechanistic research has been directed toward studying infants and young children). If we accept this assumption, how can we understand the behavior of adolescents by what we know about the behavior and development of younger children? What can't we understand about adolescents from knowledge of younger populations?

Discussion Question 6:

Given the assumptions behind the mechanistic perspective (see summary at top of page and previous questions), what types of methodologies are most likely to be used in examining human behavior?