Ecological Approach to the Development of Locomotion: Karen Adolph’s Studies on Development

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Ecological Psychology Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 35 - 50
• Main Author: Nishio, Chihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Society for Ecological Psychology 01.05.2022; 日本生態心理学会
• Subjects: daily environment; development of locomotion; ecological approach; infant walking; Karen Adolph; 乳児の歩行; 日常環境; 生態学的アプローチ; 移動の発達
• ISSN: 1349-0443; 2434-012X
• DOI: 10.24807/jep.14.1_35

Recent research on infant development investigates the impact of walking acquisition on the development of language and social behavior. Karen Adolph often refers to the relationship between motor development and a wide range of behavioral development as a developmental cascade, noting that motor development can instigate changes in perceptual, cognitive, and social development. This review is an overview of the literature by Adolph, who has been conducting studies on infant motor development, particularly focusing on walking, and examines the key words used in her studies, such as flexibility and experience, variability, and daily environment. Based on the suggestions from these studies, future research regarding an ecological approach to the development of locomotion is discussed.