Explain dynamic systems theory of motor development. Why, according to this view, is motor development softly assembled rather than genetically hardwired?

Question

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Answer 1

According to dynamic systems theory of motor development, mastery of motor skills involves acquiring increasingly complex systems of action. When motor skills work as a system, separate abilities blend together, each cooperating with others to produce more effective ways of exploring and controlling the environment. For example, control of the head and upper chest combine into sitting with support. Kicking, rocking on all fours, and reaching combine to become crawling. Then standing, stepping, and improved upright postural control unite into walking.
Each new skill is a joint product of central nervous system development, the body's movement capacities, the goals the child has in mind, and environmental supports for the skill. Change in any element makes the system less stable, and the child starts to explore and select new, more effective motor patterns. The factors that induce change vary with age. The broader physical environment also profoundly influences motor skills. For example, infants with stairs in their home learn to crawl up stairs at an early age. Dynamic systems theory shows us why motor development cannot be genetically determined. Because it is motivated by exploration and the desire to master new tasks, heredity can map it out only at a general level. Rather than being hardwired into the nervous system, behaviors are softly assembled, allowing for different paths to the same motor skill.