Goal: [ Be sure to see the Project Log FOR Updates. ] This Project, with its
set of References (Articles and BOOKS, & Updates) may be formally considered a
full-fledged PARADIGM (FINALLY, _A_ paradigm to raise Psychology from a
preparadigmatic pre-science state, especially General Psychology and
Developmental Psychology): Better assumptions; stricter & better empiricism;
better foundations for all cognitive processes; clear NEW observations sought
(i.e. major discoveries sought) VIA NEW observation methods; & with clear
empirical verifiable/falsifiable HYPOTHESES.
[ Also See:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/It_seems_a_major_sort_of_addition_needs_to_be_made_to_cognitive-developmental_ontogeny_theory_Ethogram_Theory
]
Ethogram Theory is about:
* Problems of all major different theoretical perspectives are solved with the
same new type of answer -- indicating the general utility of the new
perspective.
* AS the 'biology of behavior' (which is what ethology is (Eibl-Ebesfeldt,'75)),
one can make very a useful, strong case for the application of the basic
Principles of BIOLOGY to behavioral patterns (e.g. homeostasis), and I do in the
papers. By "biology of behavior", I am referring to the patterning (and
inter-patterning) OF BEHAVIORS PER SE : I very much believe that not only can
_THAT_ be a good and real science, but it is hard to imagine that behavior
patterns could otherwise be well-understood : Behavior patterns, being that
which in-good-part define composite behaviors AND related behavior patterns. (I
am a cognitive developmental human ethologist.)
* A type of problem with all other modern theories is argued to be due to
clearly accepting conclusions AS assumptions! (The way this is repeatedly
recognized as the same type of thing with different theorists, with different
basic theories of behavior [development], should be seen as a notable strength.
[ Logically, this should have been listed before point #1, above. ])
* In this new modern tech. world, doing the studies one would do to indicate the
validity of my perspective are now possible (though were NOT possible 30+ years
ago, when I wrote the first papers).
* The paper is written from a classical ethological perspective, using all the
major concepts of that field -- applying all those important terms to human
behavior.
* It is conceivable that the perceptual biases I describe could have evolved
using basically the same kind of imagery and concepts that Frans de Waal's apes
use in understanding social relationships -- thus indicating these as possible
true evolutionary forerunners (of the kind of conceptualization used in the more
flexible &/or abstract thought of humans).
* The perspective does much to eliminate the extreme and continuing dualism of
nature and nurture. In my view (research-able), BOTH, in very significant
circumstances, are in operation explicitly together (at the same time --
really!!); this view is arguable VERY likely.
For a couple more things accomplished, see the Updates under the Project.
What I am interested in is the study of (1) ONLY behavior patterns, with at
least SOME _MAJOR_ foundation(s) in/of OVERT, directly-observable behavior
patterns, at least at key points in development (ontogeny) and at least at the
INCEPTION of the new behavior pattern, _and_ other behavior patterns that retain
clear OVERT aspects _AND_ (2) corresponding aspects of the environment (related
to either or both of those sorts of behavior patterns). THOSE 2 TYPES OF THINGS
(behavior patterns, as just defined, and corresponding environmental aspects)
AND relatively LITTLE ELSE, as basically the entire field of study -- BUT with
such "pieces" as those 2 aspects of proximate causation credibly further
connected or changed ONLY by simpler processes. I see the forms of associative
learning as the simpler processes totally (otherwise) providing the links for
behavior pattern connections or for additional behavior pattern change.
**_NOW_**, THAT IS ALL; and, that is the only way to hold the field of study
together and is absolutely necessary to avoid confusion _and_ to keep things
clearly in terms of the sole and individual primary unit (the single human) --
the only way to have a science like other sciences (which is not only more than
desirable, but absolutely necessary).
As soon as anything not directly in the category of such well-grounded and
well-founded behavior patterns and their corresponding environmental aspects
(and simple associative learning) is "added in", by citing ANY [supposedly] more
indirectly-related OTHER kinds of [supposed] behavior-related evidence, NOT
CLEARLY DIRECTLY RELATED TO the products of THE PROXIMATE CAUSES (above) AND/or
simple associative learning, I see the field as then corrupted (examples of
other things not clearly related include some neuroscience "findings" and
"social learning" <-- which is ALSO not completely founded and grounded in the
individual Subject, as I say is REQUIRED (above)).
If my requirements for science are not met, here particularly in the case of
Psychology: you should see that the classic sort of psychology (as [ just ] the
study of behavior patterns and related environmental aspects) HAS largely been
abandoned and your work is not consistent with this view or approach.
---------
I will call the resulting theory I propose and support (a
cognitive-developmental theory): The Ethogram Theory -- because of the
importance for the approach in establishing a basic ethogram, for accomplishing
its specific goals.
[It makes me happy if people read or download-to-read "A Human Ethogram ...".
But all updates, questions-and-answers (collected essays), and other timeline
items all provide essays that aid not only the understandability of the
approach, but also its necessity AND the specifics (empirical, testable
details). Also see the other Project Log entries, project references and
"research items".]
(To see a fuller list delineating the virtues of this perspective and approach,
see
mynichecomp.com/key_content/ (see esp. bottom HALF of that web page.))
[ ALSO to know of access to ALL the writings relevant to this Project, see the
References and the most recent Updates (Log Entries), below.
ALSO: See the Questions associated with the Project.
The main writing under this Project is the BOOK,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329428629_Essentially_all_Recent_Essays_on_Ethogram_Theory
and then the 3 items of "Linked Data", under THAT (paradigmShiftFinal.pdf, the
first addition to the BOOK (Collection), finalfinal3-converted.pdf , the
second-most recent addition, AND Absol_the_last_addendum_TO_BOOK.pdf (more
recent essays included as the third Addendum)). ]
Methods: Eye Tracking, naturalistic observation, Computer assisted analysis
Date: 22 November 2016