Episode 136 David F. Bjorklund on evolution, development and learning

What role does our evolutionary history play in how we learn? Is it even useful to look and try to determine what’s «natural» for us humans? In what way does our biology determine what is good for us? Did evolution «design» us to be happy? What is evolutionary mismatch? What sort of skills require explicit instruction? How do we balance this need with the developmental need for autonomy and independence, which kids in our current culture get less of than before? Why is it developmentally useful to be cognitively immature, and why are young kids natural optimists? 

These and many other questions are discussed in this episode, where Lars talks to David F. Bjorklund about his work on human development and evolutionary psychology. We also discuss some of the work of other researchers in the field, like David C. Geary and his distinction between biologically primary and secondary abilities, as well as some of Peter Gray’s positions on learning, autonomy, age mixing and mental health. 

David F. Bjorklund is a professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University. For more info, see: https://psy.fau.edu/people/dbjorklu.php

Recommendations:

• David F. Bjorklund. (2020). How Children Invented Humanity: The Role of Development in Human Evolution. Oxford University Press
• David F. Bjorklund (2022). «Children’s Evolved Learning Abilities and Their Implications for Education» , June 2022 Educational Psychology Review 34(5)
• David C. Geary. (2005). Origin of Mind: : Evolution of Brain, Cognition, and General Intelligence. American Psychological Association
• David C. Geary. (2007). «An Evolutionarily Informed Education Science» October 2008, Educational Psychologist 43(4)
• David C. Geary og Daniel B. Berch (red). (2016). Evolutionary Perspectives on Child Development and Education. Springer
• Jerry C. Carlson og  Joel R. Levin (red.) (2007). Educating the Evolved Mind: Conceptual Foundations for an Evolutionary Educational Psychology. Information Age Publishing 
• Peter Gray. (2013). Free to Learn: : Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life. Basic Books
• Peter Gray, David Lancy, David F. Bjorklund. (2023). «Decline in Independent Activity as a Cause of Decline in Children’s Mental Wellbeing: Summary of the Evidence» February 2023, The Journal of Pediatrics 260(2)
• Glenn Geher og Nicole Wedberg. (2019). Positive Evolutionary Psychology: Darwin's Guide to Living a Richer Life. Oxford University Press

 

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