Epigenetic Theory
Encyclopedia
Epigenetic theory is an emergent theory
of development that includes both the genetic
origins of behavior and the direct influence that environment
al forces have, over time, on the expression of those gene
s. The theory focuses on the dynamic interaction between these two influences during development.
Interactivist ideas of development have been discussed in various forms and under various names throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. An early version was proposed, among the founding statements in embryology
, by Karl Ernst von Baer
and popularized by Ernst Haeckel
. A different approach, James Mark Baldwin
's "Baldwin effect
," is prominent in contemporary discourses. A radical epigenetic view (physiological epigenesis) was developed by Paul Wintrebert
. Another variation, probabilistic epigenesis, was presented by Gilbert Gottlieb in 2003. Probabilistic epigenesis is the view that there are bidirectional influences, based on four levels of analysis, on the development of an organism. These levels of analysis are environmental (social, physical, and cultural), behavior, neural activity, and genetic activity. This view encompasses all of the possible developing factors on an organism and how they not only influence the organism and each other but how the organism also influences its own development.
Noted developmental psychologist Erik Erikson
developed an idea he called the epigenetic principle that says we develop through an unfolding of our personality in predetermined stages, and that our environment and surrounding culture influence how we progress through these stages. This biological unfolding in relation to our socio-cultural settings is done in stages of psychosocial development
, where "progress through each stage is in part determined by our success, or lack of success, in all the previous stages."
The epigenetic theory views development as the result of an ongoing, bi-directional interchange between heredity and the environment. Environmental influences range from the things we lump together under nurture, such as parenting, family dynamics, schooling, and neighborhood quality, to biological encounters such as viruses and happenings in cells. In addition, Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory
says that different cultures contribute to environmental influences in different ways. Since epigenetic theory relies on the environment (which varies among cultures) and heredity as influencing development, where and how individuals grow up can forecast their potential development. Socioeconomic status
can aid environmental influences for example, access to healthy foods, medicines, and care facilitates positive development.
Genes
produce protein
s throughout the course of ones life, these proteins can differ in different environments. While the epigenetic view supports the theory that genes are collaborative, not determining an individual’s traits in an independent manner, but rather determine traits in association with the environment, there is no consensus on what percentage of nature or nurture makes us who we are.
Theory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
of development that includes both the genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
origins of behavior and the direct influence that environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
al forces have, over time, on the expression of those gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
s. The theory focuses on the dynamic interaction between these two influences during development.
Interactivist ideas of development have been discussed in various forms and under various names throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. An early version was proposed, among the founding statements in embryology
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
, by Karl Ernst von Baer
Karl Ernst von Baer
Karl Ernst Ritter von Baer, Edler von Huthorn also known in Russia as Karl Maksimovich Baer was an Estonian naturalist, biologist, geologist, meteorologist, geographer, a founding father of embryology, explorer of European Russia and Scandinavia, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a...
and popularized by Ernst Haeckel
Ernst Haeckel
The "European War" became known as "The Great War", and it was not until 1920, in the book "The First World War 1914-1918" by Charles à Court Repington, that the term "First World War" was used as the official name for the conflict.-Research:...
. A different approach, James Mark Baldwin
James Mark Baldwin
James Mark Baldwin was an American philosopher and psychologist who was educated at Princeton under the supervision of Scottish philosopher James McCosh and who was one of the founders of the Department of Psychology at the university...
's "Baldwin effect
Baldwin effect
The Baldwin effect, also known as Baldwinian evolution or ontogenic evolution, is a theory of a possible evolutionary processes that was originally put forward in 1896 in a paper, "A New Factor in Evolution," by American psychologist James Mark Baldwin. The paper proposed a mechanism for specific...
," is prominent in contemporary discourses. A radical epigenetic view (physiological epigenesis) was developed by Paul Wintrebert
Paul Wintrebert
Paul Wintrebert was a French embryologist and a theoretician of developmental biology.He coined the term cytoskeleton in 1931.He held radical epigenetic views...
. Another variation, probabilistic epigenesis, was presented by Gilbert Gottlieb in 2003. Probabilistic epigenesis is the view that there are bidirectional influences, based on four levels of analysis, on the development of an organism. These levels of analysis are environmental (social, physical, and cultural), behavior, neural activity, and genetic activity. This view encompasses all of the possible developing factors on an organism and how they not only influence the organism and each other but how the organism also influences its own development.
Noted developmental psychologist Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson was a Danish-German-American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst known for his theory on social development of human beings. He may be most famous for coining the phrase identity crisis. His son, Kai T...
developed an idea he called the epigenetic principle that says we develop through an unfolding of our personality in predetermined stages, and that our environment and surrounding culture influence how we progress through these stages. This biological unfolding in relation to our socio-cultural settings is done in stages of psychosocial development
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development as articulated by Erik Erikson explain eight stages through which a healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage builds on the successful...
, where "progress through each stage is in part determined by our success, or lack of success, in all the previous stages."
The epigenetic theory views development as the result of an ongoing, bi-directional interchange between heredity and the environment. Environmental influences range from the things we lump together under nurture, such as parenting, family dynamics, schooling, and neighborhood quality, to biological encounters such as viruses and happenings in cells. In addition, Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory
Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory
Geert Hofstede proposed a systematic framework for assessing and differentiating national cultures best known as the cultural dimensions theory...
says that different cultures contribute to environmental influences in different ways. Since epigenetic theory relies on the environment (which varies among cultures) and heredity as influencing development, where and how individuals grow up can forecast their potential development. Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person's work experience and of an individual's or family’s economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education, and occupation...
can aid environmental influences for example, access to healthy foods, medicines, and care facilitates positive development.
Genes
Gênes
Gênes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Italy, named after the city of Genoa. It was formed in 1805, when Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Republic of Genoa. Its capital was Genoa, and it was divided in the arrondissements of Genoa, Bobbio, Novi Ligure, Tortona and...
produce protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s throughout the course of ones life, these proteins can differ in different environments. While the epigenetic view supports the theory that genes are collaborative, not determining an individual’s traits in an independent manner, but rather determine traits in association with the environment, there is no consensus on what percentage of nature or nurture makes us who we are.