Socially Nested Reciprocities in Perception-action and Development

Gottlieb's (1991/2007) study on social malleability of ducking response to maternal calls is perhaps a paradigmatic example of research within the transactional approach to behavioral development—an approach which has fundamental links with the ecological approach to perception-action (Gibson, 1979). This commentary fleshes out these links especially as they relate to the social nature of the organism-environment system and social influences on perception-action and development.