Dynamic System

theory
Chaos Theory

{ By: Ramona Torres-Martinez

 Born in 1941 in Brooklyn, NY

Bachelors Degree from Antioch College

in Ohio

Masters and Doctorate from the

University of Wisconsin

President of the Society for Research in

Child Development

Professor of Psychology at the University

of Indiana

Died in December of 2004 from Tongue

Cancer

Esther Thelen
Developmental Psychologist
 Dynamic System Theory
Focus:
Infant Motor Development

Body
Dynamic Systems theories depart
from conventional approaches
because they seek to understand
the overall behavior of a system Exploration Brain
not by dissecting it into parts, but
by asking how and under what
circumstances the parts cooperate
to produce a whole pattern.
Esther Thelen
(Jones Schrock, 2003)
Experiences Environment
 Body Awareness
Skills

Reaching
How Skills Are Developed

Walking Grabbing Repetition of movement

Exploring Surroundings
Allowing child to problem
solving
Crawling Sitting

(Savelbergh & Galjouw, 2005)

 Reaching and Grasping Experiment

Motivation

Body
Problem-
Spatial
Solving
Awareness
www.youtube.com480360Search by imageMotor Development - Baby Body
Sense (Esther Thelen)
Grasping

Memory of
Arm and
repetitive
Hand
action
Control
outcomes

Upper
body
Strength

(Spencer et al, 2006)

Stepping Reflex Experiment

psysc613.wikispaces.com800280Search by imagestepping_and_kicking.png

Kicking
Chubby baby patterns
legs returns when
resting

Stepping
Infant
motion
stepping
emerges in
motion Focus: water
Vanishing
Step Reflex
(Savelbergh & Galjouw, 2005)

(Jones Schrock, 2003)

 References
Jones Schrock, C. ( 2003). Baby Steps and Beyond. Indiana
University Research & Creative Activity, 25(2) Retrieved on July
14th, 2016 from
http://www.indiana.edu/~rcapub/v25n2/thelen.shtml
Oliver, M. (2005, January 08). Esther Thelen, 63: Studied
Babies Development using Chaos theory. Los Angeles
Times. Retrieved July, 15, 2016 from
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jan/08/local/me-thelen8

Savelsbergh, G.P., & Caljouw, S.R. (2005). Discovery of Motor

Development: A Tribute to Esther Thelen. Behavior Analyst Today,
6(4), 243-248 Retrieved on July 14th, 2016 from
http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.librarycatalog.fresno.edu/ehos
t/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=3550ceb7-f49a-48aa-a607-c35
30d75cf9d%40sessionmgr4001&hid=4114

[adamism9]. (2013, January 28). Motor Development- Baby Body

Sense (Esther Thelen). [Video File]. Retrieved July 14th, 2016 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI3t_hsFzX0

Spencer, J. P., Melissa, C., Corbetta, D., Beverly, U., Buchanan, P.,
& Schner, G. (2006). Moving toward a Grand Theory of
Development: In Memory of Esther Thelen. Child Development,
(6). 1521-1538 Retrieved July 15th, 2016 from
http://0-search.ebscohost.com.librarycatalog.fresno.edu/login
.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid,url&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.413
9256&site=eds-live

1941- 2004