Productive pluralism: The coming of age of ecological psychology.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Ecological psychology aims to explain how a perceiver learns to differentiate the information specifying what the animal can do.

“ecological psychology aims to explain how a perceiver learns to differentiate the information that specifies what the animals can do (J.J. Gibson & Gibson, 1955).”

• cites J.J. Gibson & Gibson, 1955 sourcePartly supported

  The Conclusion (p. 9) describes perceptual learning as becoming more sensitive to differences in the stimulus array, supporting the differentiation part of the claim. The paper does not say that the information being differentiated specifies what animals can do; its examples concern identifying objects and discriminating stimuli. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Selectionist explanations in ecological psychology comprise variation in action systems, encounter with the environment, and selective retention or amplification based on behavioral success.

“Selectionist explanations in ecological psychology consist of three elements: first, there is variation in animal's action systems.”

• Also stated in: § 4.3 Summary · plain

  “Second, these animals encounter their environment.And third, a selective retention or amplification based on behavioral success (Bruineberg & Rietveld, 2019;Withagen & Chemero, 2009; see also Endler, 1986;Lewontin, 1970).”

• cites Bruineberg & Rietveld, 2019 sourceSupported
• cites Withagen & Chemero, 2009 sourceCould not verify

  The available indexed passages contain bibliographic metadata, but no discussion of the proposed three elements. Searches for variation in action systems and for selective retention or amplification found no substantive passage, so the claim cannot be checked against our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Social ecological psychology focuses on how the social permeates perception-action cycles.

“Social ecological psychology, which focusses on how the social permeates perceptionaction cycles.”

May combine two claims.

The three strands develop ecological ideas in different directions, use central concepts differently, adopt different explanatory principles, and embody different philosophical worldviews.

“Each of these strands develop ecological ideas in quite different directions, making different use of some of its central concepts, adopting different explanatory principles, and embodying different philosophical worldviews.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Physical ecological psychology focuses on discovering laws governing perception-action, in a manner similar to physics.

“Physical ecological psychology, which focusses on discovering laws that govern perception-action, similar to physics.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Eleanor Gibson's work is conceptually strongly intertwined with biological and social ecological psychology.

“Conceptually, Eleanor Gibson's work is strongly intertwined with biological ecological psychology and social ecological psychology.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The three core elements of the ecological approach appear in each of the different strands, though in quite different ways.

“As we will see throughout this paper, these elements are part of each of the different strands, albeit in quite different ways.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The three lines of thought draw inspiration from different scientific disciplines.

“The three lines of thought each take inspiration in different scientific disciplines.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Ecological psychology is neither a single package deal nor a complete hodgepodge.

“Ecological psychology is not one "package deal", but it is not a complete hodgepodge either.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Biological ecological psychology focuses on applying evolutionary (selectionist) principles to perception-action cycles.

“Biological ecological psychology: which focusses on applying evolutionary (selectionist) principles to perception-action cycles.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The three identified lines of thought can justifiably trace their approach back to James Gibson's work.

“As far as we are concerned, the three lines of thought we identified can justifiably trace their approach to James Gibson's work.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

At other points Reed defined affordances relative to a population of animals.

“At other points, however, he defined affordances "relative to a population of animals" (p.40).”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The physical approach looks to physics for its style of explanation, seeking general laws that together with circumstances predict particular phenomena, including animal behavior.

“The physical approach looks to physics for its style of explanation.It seeks out general laws that together with circumstances (auxiliary, boundary, and initial conditions) can be used to predict particular phenomena, including animal behavior.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Specification became an indispensable condition for direct perception on the physical approach.

“Such specification thus became a sine qua non for direct perception.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The physical approach adopts a materialist but non-reductive ontology, with physical principles of pattern formation applying at each of nature's scales.

“It adopts a materialist ontology, but one that is non-reductive-the physical principles of pattern formation simply apply at each of nature's scales.”

May combine two claims.

In all of Reed's construals, affordances are resources that exist independently of any specific animal and do not depend on being used or perceived.

“Yet in any of his construals, affordances are resources that exist independently of any specific animal and do not depend on being used and perceived.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

Proponents of the physical approach held that self-organization theory provides a new and better understanding of the evolutionary process.

“proponents of the physical approach asserted that this theory of self-organization can also provide a new, and in their view, better understanding of the evolutionary process.”

• cites Swenson & Turvey, 1991 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

The three strands share some basic ingredients but diverge substantially in how they conceive of the research program of ecological psychology.

“Although they share some basic ingredients, the approaches diverge wildly in how they conceive of the research program of ecological psychology.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The paper's approach provides a more comparative conceptual analysis of the different strands in post-Gibsonian ecological psychology than Heft's survey.

“Our approach provides a more comparative conceptual analysis of the different strands in post-Gibsonian ecological psychology.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The concept of affordances has become widespread across psychological science.

“The concept of affordances in particular has gained currency throughout psychological science.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

The two decades following Gibson's death in 1979 are formative years for ecological psychology as it is understood today.

“We have chosen this period, because we take these to be formative years for ecological psychology as we see it today.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Agent-environment inseparability, direct perception and affordances are the three core elements of the ecological approach.

“These three core elements of the ecological approach, namely agent-environment inseparability, direct perception and affordances are something of a wish list for a full-fledged ecological psychology.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Ecological psychology focuses on the environment in which an animal lives.

“ecological psychology focuses on the environment in which an animal lives.”

• cites Mace, 1977Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Ecological psychology acquired a bad reputation, which contributes to reluctance to engage it.

“One reason for this is that ecological psychology developed a bad reputation.”

• cites Dennett 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Contemporary ecological psychology has appeared inaccessible to outsiders and defensive of its legacy.

“Yet contemporary ecological psychology has seemed inaccessible to outsiders and protective of its legacy.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The guiding principle of the physical approach was that foundational physical principles govern pattern formation in open systems in both the inanimate and the animate world.

“The guiding principle was that there must be a set of foundational (physical) principles that govern pattern formation in open systems in both the inanimate and the animate world.”

• cites Turvey, 1990aNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Proponents of the physical approach assumed that nature applies a single set of strategies with equanimity to each of her scales.

“Indeed, proponents of the physical approach assumed that "there is a single set of strategies that nature applies, with equanimity to each of her scales" (Turvey, 1990a, p. 63, emphasis omitted).”

• cites Turvey, 1990aNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Costall holds a relational conception of information: information is not an intrinsic property of light, sound, or other energy, but a functional concept realized in relation to a particular animal and purpose.

“Costall points out that "information": is not an intrinsic property of structures of light, sound, and other forms of energy.'Information' is a functional concept-information in relation to a particular animal, in relation to particular purpose, and 'realized' within that relation (Costall, 2003, p. 82)”

• cites Costall, 2003Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

In Reed's view, selectionism is the natural ally of ecological psychology.

“Indeed, selectionism is in Reed's (1996) view the "natural ally" (p.187) of ecological psychology.”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

On the physical view, the evolution of perception-action cycles is a necessary result of thermodynamic principles.

“Indeed, on this view, the evolution of perception-action cycles is the necessary result of thermodynamic principles.”

• cites Swenson & Turvey, 1991 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Perception is shaped by sociohistorical processes, but this mediation does not make perception indirect in the sense of requiring mental representations or unconscious inferences.

“Perception is shaped by such sociohistorical processes.But this kind of "mediation", as Costall calls it above, does not entail that perception becomes indirect, in the sense of requiring mental representations or unconscious inferences (Costall 1989(Costall , 1995)).”

• cites Costall, 1989 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Costall, 1995 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

From this ecological point of view, the nervous system is not a stimulus-response mechanism, and neurons do not act as commanders of the body or embody representations of the environment.

“From this ecological point of view, the nervous system is not a stimulus-response mechanism, neurons do not act as commanders of the body or embody representations of the environment.”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Reed asserted that Darwinian variation and selection can further ecological psychology and that Gibsonian concepts of affordances and information can help understand the evolution of animals.

“Reed asserted that the Darwinian theory of variation and selection can further ecological psychology, and that the Gibsonian concepts of affordances and information can help to understand the evolution of animals.”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The physical approach holds that ambient energy distributions are necessarily specific to the facts of the environment and of an animal's movements relative to it.

“The physical approach: holds that ambient energy distributions are necessarily specific to the facts of the environment and of an animal's movements relative to the environment […].”

• cites Turvey & Shaw 1999Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

On more ambitious physical proposals, the availability of specific affordances depends on circumstances, while their bare possibility is given with the laws of nature.

“On more ambitious proposals, the availability of specific affordances depends on specific circumstances (i.e. initial conditions etc.), but their "bare possibility" is given with the laws of nature (Shaw, 2001;Turvey, 1992, see also Shaw et al., 2019).”

• cites Shaw, 2001 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Turvey, 1992 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Carello and Turvey stressed that the specification principle is an engine of discovery rather than a testable and falsifiable hypothesis.

“Indeed, Carello and Turvey (2004) stressed that rather than a hypothesis that can be tested and falsified, the specification principle is "an engine of discovery" (p.27) for finding the lawful relations that govern perception and action.”

• cites Carello & Turvey, 2004 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

A lack of specificity between ambient structure and its environmental source would undermine ecological psychology's claim to direct perception.

“On this approach then, a lack of specificity, understood as a lawful relation holding between ambient structure and its environmental source, would jeopardize ecological psychology's claim to direct perception.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

For Reed, only affordances exert selection pressures on an animal's behavior.

“For Reed, affordances (and only affordances) exert selection pressures on the behavior of an animal.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Reed asserted that selectionist processes operate at all timescales, including behavior, development and evolution.

“Moreover, he asserted that selectionist processes are at work at all timescales, not only at the scale of behavior but also at the scale of development and evolution.”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The law of maximum entropy production entails that order produces entropy at a faster rate than disorder.

“This law entails that "order produces entropy at a faster rate than disorder" (Swenson & Turvey, 1991, p. 317).”

• cites Swenson & Turvey, 1991 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Reed's starting point was to show that the psychological is part of nature and can therefore be studied ecologically.

“The starting point for Reed is "to show that 'the psychological' is part of nature and can therefore be studied ecologically" (Reed, 1996, p. 8).”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Social phenomena are not merely another topic grafted onto basic non-social perception and action; the social permeates and transforms human living.

“In other words, social phenomena are not just another topic that could be grafted onto a basic, non-social form of perception and action, rather the social permeates and transforms the human way of living.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The physical approach aims to discover laws governing perception and action; the biological approach aims to explain adaptive regulation of interactions with the environment; the social approach aims to explain how human life becomes permeated by normative and sociocultural concerns.

“The physical approach aims to discover the laws that govern perception and action, the biological approach aims to explain how animals adaptively regulate their interactions with the environment, and the social approach aims to explain how human life becomes permeated by normative and sociocultural concerns.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Social ecological psychology aims to bring social dimensions to the fore, socializing affordances and stressing the social constitution of ecological psychology.

“They aimed at "socializing affordances" (Costall, 1995) and stressed the "social constitution of ecological psychology" (Heft, 2007).”

• cites Costall, 1995 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Heft, 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Reed introduces the concept of regulation: animals regulate their encounters with environmental affordances on the basis of ecological information available in ambient arrays.

“To that end, Reed introduces the concept of regulation-animals regulate their encounters with the affordances of their environments on the basis of the rich ecological information that is available in the ambient arrays.”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

For Reed, the worm experiments proved that simple organisms are not mere automata but adaptively regulate their encounters with their environment.

“For Reed (as for Darwin), this proved that simple organisms are not "mere automata" but adaptively regulate their encounters with their environment.”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

According to Reed, neural Darwinism must be combined with an ecological account of environmental structures and can thereby explain perception and action.

“According to Reed, this dynamic process of neural Darwinism needs to be combined with an ecological account of the environmental structures involved in the selection process, and can provide an explanation of perception and action.”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Reed proposed that the selectionist perspective finds a natural alliance with Edelman's neural Darwinism.

“Reed proposed that the selectionist perspective on perception and actions finds a natural alliance with Edelman's neural Darwinism (Reed, 1989).”

• cites Reed, 1989 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In Reed's selectionist approach, affordances are environmental constraints that create selection pressure on the behavior of individual organisms.

“Fundamentally, in Reed's selectionist approach, affordances are these environmental constraints: "affordances and only the relative availability (or nonavailability) of affordances create selection pressure on the behavior of individual organisms; hence, behavior is regulated with respect to the affordances of the environment for a given animal" (Reed, 1996, p. 18, italics in original).”

• cites Reed, 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Turvey equated affordances with lawfulness, holding that real possibility is identical to lawfulness.

“Real possibility is identical to lawfulness (Turvey, 1992, p. 177)”

• cites Turvey, 1992 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

After writing that response, Reed and Turvey went their separate ways.

“After the writing of this response, Reed and Turvey clearly went their separate ways (see sections 4 and 6.2).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Taking note of each position's aims, sensitivities, merits, and limits will facilitate collaboration and crosspollination.

“On the contrary, taking note of the aims and sensitivities of each position, their merits and limits, we believe it will facilitate collaboration and crosspollination.”

May combine two claims.

The unifying tendency in ecological psychology has deterred otherwise interested thinkers and obscured the rich and pluriform ways the ecological approach has developed.

“This unifying tendency has deterred “otherwise interested thinkers” (Dennett, 2017) and hid from view the rich and pluriform ways in which the ecological approach has developed.”

• cites Dennett, 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The explanatory and philosophical background of the most vocal proponents has not helped redress the selective neglect of Eleanor Gibson's work.

“The explanatory and philosophical background of the most vocal of these (see Section 3) has not been helpful in redressing this selective emphasis.”

May combine two claims.

Contemporary works in ecological psychology propose bridges between strands and also connect to a multitude of neighboring fields and theories.

“They propose bridges between strands of ecological psychology, but also connect to a multitude of neighboring fields and theories.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Heft's (2023) analysis of post-Gibsonian thought is more historical and sociological, highlighting the labs, research groups, conferences, and personal connections that formed it.

“Heft's analysis is more historical and sociological and highlights the different labs, research groups, conferences and personal connections that together formed post-Gibsonian thought.”

• cites Heft, 2023Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Each of the three identified lines of thought can justifiably trace its approach to James Gibson's work.

“As far as we are concerned, the three lines of thought we identified can justifiably trace their approach to James Gibson's work.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Opening ecological psychology to thinkers interested in embodied and embedded cognition may infuse the different approaches with new empirical methods and ideas that spark further development of the field.

“Opening ecological psychology up to thinkers otherwise interested in embodied and embedded cognition may come to infuse the different approaches with fitting new empirical methods and ideas that spark further development of the field as a whole.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Acknowledging the different positions on concepts, explanations, and ontologies will force the views into greater articulation and foster a productive pluralism in the coming years.

“Acknowledging the different positions on the concepts employed, the explanations sought, and the ontologies committed to, we believe, will force one another's view “into greater articulation” (Feyerabend, 1975, p. 21) and foster a productive pluralism for the years to come.6”

• cites Feyerabend, 1975Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Ecological psychology never was, and should not be, a monolithic research program.

“We hope to have shown that ecological psychology never was, nor should be, a monolithic research program.”