Reciprocal causation and the proximate–ultimate distinction

Article

Dickins, T. and Barton, R. 2012. Reciprocal causation and the proximate–ultimate distinction. Biology and Philosophy. 28 (5), pp. 747-756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-012-9345-z
TypeArticle
TitleReciprocal causation and the proximate–ultimate distinction
AuthorsDickins, T. and Barton, R.
Abstract

Laland and colleagues have sought to challenge the proximate-ultimate distinction claiming that it imposes a unidirectional model of causation, is limited in its capacity to account for complex biological phenomena, and hinders progress in biology. In this article the core of their argument is critically analyzed. It is claimed that contrary to their claims Laland et al. rely upon the proximate-ultimate distinction to make their points and that their alternative conception of reciprocal causation refers to phenomena that were already accounted for by standard theory.

KeywordsProximate cause; Ultimate cause; Reciprocal causation
Research GroupBehavioural Biology group
PublisherSpringer
JournalBiology and Philosophy
ISSN0169-3867
Electronic1572-8404
Publication dates
Online11 Dec 2012
PrintSep 2013
Publication process dates
Deposited03 Apr 2017
Accepted25 Sep 2012
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-012-9345-z
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84881611794
Web of Science identifierWOS:000323339000002
LanguageEnglish
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/8475v

Log in to edit
File access - Request a copy

Restricted files

Accepted author manuscript

  • 54
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Turning the tide: rhythmic aggregation behaviour in Anurida maritima (Collembola) is entrained by inundation
Timmermans, M., King, M., Purchase, D., Dickins, J.A., Dickins, T. and Kett, S. 2024. Turning the tide: rhythmic aggregation behaviour in Anurida maritima (Collembola) is entrained by inundation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2024.152062
The role of information in evolutionary biology
Dickins, T. 2023. The role of information in evolutionary biology. Acta Biotheoretica. 71 (3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10441-023-09468-4
Sibling aggression between Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridacyla) chicks
Mead, A. and Dickins, T. 2023. Sibling aggression between Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridacyla) chicks. Journal of the Lundy Field Society. 8, pp. 87-98.
Gull-human interactions in an urban population of Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus
Beasley, E. and Dickins, T. 2023. Gull-human interactions in an urban population of Herring Gulls Larus argentatus and Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus. Bird Study. 70 (1-2), pp. 55-58. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2023.2166458
Measuring heritability: why bother?
Shuker, D. and Dickins, T. 2022. Measuring heritability: why bother? Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 45. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X21001606
Global sex differences in hygiene norms and their relation to sex equality
Eriksson, K., Dickins, T. and Strimling, P. 2022. Global sex differences in hygiene norms and their relation to sex equality. PLOS Global Public Health. 2 (6), pp. 1-17.
Lessons from behaviorism: the problem of construct-led science
Dickins, T. and Rahman, Q. 2022. Lessons from behaviorism: the problem of construct-led science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 45. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X2100008X
Why is greater income inequality associated with lower life satisfaction and poorer health? Evidence from the European Quality of Life Survey, 2012
Nettle, D. and Dickins, T. 2022. Why is greater income inequality associated with lower life satisfaction and poorer health? Evidence from the European Quality of Life Survey, 2012. The Social Science Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/03623319.2022.2117888
Adult Kittiwake expelling chick from nesting ledge
Mead, A., Neller, K., Horrod-Wilson, W. and Dickins, T. 2021. Adult Kittiwake expelling chick from nesting ledge. British Birds. 114 (12), pp. 766-766.
Humans discriminate individual large-billed crows and individual cats by their respective vocalizations
Schalz, S., Meekings, S. and Dickins, T. 2021. Humans discriminate individual large-billed crows and individual cats by their respective vocalizations. International Journal of Comparative Psychology. 34, pp. 1-12.
Data and context
Dickins, T. 2021. Data and context. Biosemiotics. 14 (3), pp. 633-642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12304-021-09454-8
The Life-cycle of artificial contexts
Augusto, J. and Dickins, T. 2021. The Life-cycle of artificial contexts. Modeling and Using Context. 4 (Sp Iss), pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.21494/ISTE.OP.2021.0685
Hygiene norms across 56 nations are predicted by self-control values and disease threat
Eriksson, K., Dickins, T. and Strimling, P. 2021. Hygiene norms across 56 nations are predicted by self-control values and disease threat. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology. 2, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2021.100013
The modern synthesis: Evolution and the organization of information
Dickins, T. 2021. The modern synthesis: Evolution and the organization of information. Springer.
Inequality and existential threat: a reply to ‘Fairness, generosity and conditionality in the welfare system: the case of UK disability benefits’ by Elliot Johnson and Daniel Nettle
Dickins, T. 2021. Inequality and existential threat: a reply to ‘Fairness, generosity and conditionality in the welfare system: the case of UK disability benefits’ by Elliot Johnson and Daniel Nettle. Global Discourse: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Current Affairs. 13 (2), pp. 221-224. https://doi.org/10.1332/204378920X16067940365026
A not-so proximate account of cleansing behavior
Sigger, J. and Dickins, T. 2021. A not-so proximate account of cleansing behavior. Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 44. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X20000564
Ecological psychology, radical enactivism and behavior: an evolutionary perspective
Dickins, T. 2021. Ecological psychology, radical enactivism and behavior: an evolutionary perspective. Behavior and Philosophy. 49, pp. 1-23.
Applying PCT to hand hygiene
Sigger, J. and Dickins, T. 2019. Applying PCT to hand hygiene. Annual Meeting (IAPCT). University of Manchester, UK 11 - 13 Sep 2019 International Association for Perceptual Control Theory. pp. 8-8
Stashing behaviour in a Herring Gull
Dickins, T. and Thompson, M. 2020. Stashing behaviour in a Herring Gull. British Birds. 113 (4), pp. 235-235.
Humans discriminate individual zebra finches by their song
Schalz, S. and Dickins, T. 2021. Humans discriminate individual zebra finches by their song. Biolinguistics. 14 (SI), pp. 130-144.
Conflation and refutation: Book review of T. Uller and K. N. Laland. eds. 2019. Evolutionary causation: biological and philosophical Reflections. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 352: pp. ISBN: 978‐0‐262‐03992‐5. $60.00/£50.00
Dickins, T. 2020. Conflation and refutation: Book review of T. Uller and K. N. Laland. eds. 2019. Evolutionary causation: biological and philosophical Reflections. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 352: pp. ISBN: 978‐0‐262‐03992‐5. $60.00/£50.00. Evolution. 74 (2), pp. 508-514. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13916
Food shopping under risk and uncertainty
Dickins, T. and Schalz, S. 2020. Food shopping under risk and uncertainty. Learning and Motivation. 72, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2020.101681
Ancestral primacy of same-sex sexual behaviour does not explain its stable prevalence in modern populations
Dickins, T. and Rahman, Q. 2020. Ancestral primacy of same-sex sexual behaviour does not explain its stable prevalence in modern populations. Nature Ecology and Evolution. 4 (6), pp. 782-783. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1187-5
Avian communities of Lundy 2008-2016
Dickins, T. and Twigger, L. 2020. Avian communities of Lundy 2008-2016. Journal of the Lundy Field Society. 7, pp. 163-180.
The ecology of cooperation: considerations for litter research
Gellard, C., Dickins, T. and Coulson, M. 2019. The ecology of cooperation: considerations for litter research. Journal of Litter and Environmental Quality. 3 (1), pp. 38-50.
Clutch size in Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) on Lundy
Dickins, T., Neller, K. and Spencer, R. 2018. Clutch size in Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) on Lundy. Journal of the Lundy Field Society. 6, pp. 35-54.
Pragmatic considerations and social benefits: an analysis of engagement with a fly-tipping reduction project
Dickins, T. 2018. Pragmatic considerations and social benefits: an analysis of engagement with a fly-tipping reduction project. Journal of Litter and Environmental Quality. 2 (1), pp. 37-47.
Bird communities in the buffer lands of Epping Forest
Dickins, T. and Froud, A. 2017. Bird communities in the buffer lands of Epping Forest. Essex Naturalist. (34), pp. 154-164.
Selfish-gene theory and levels of selection
Dickins, T. 2018. Selfish-gene theory and levels of selection. in: Callan, H. (ed.) The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology Wiley. pp. 1-11
An equitable marriage: a focal study of a barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) nest on Lundy
Dickins, T. 2016. An equitable marriage: a focal study of a barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) nest on Lundy. Journal of the Lundy Field Society. 5, pp. 89-100.
General intelligence does not help us understand cognitive evolution
Shuker, D., Barrett, L., Dickins, T., Scott-Phillips, T. and Barton, R. 2017. General intelligence does not help us understand cognitive evolution. Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 40. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X16001771
Kleptoparasitism in gulls Laridae at an urban and a coastal foraging environment: an assessment of ecological predictors
Spencer, R., Russell, Y., Dickins, B. and Dickins, T. 2017. Kleptoparasitism in gulls Laridae at an urban and a coastal foraging environment: an assessment of ecological predictors. Bird Study. 64 (1), pp. 12-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2016.1249821
Average clutch size for a Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) colony on Lundy
Dickins, T. 2016. Average clutch size for a Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) colony on Lundy. Devon Birds. 69 (1), pp. 7-13.
Evolution and prenatal development: an evolutionary perspective
Coall, D., Callan, A., Dickins, T. and Chisholm, J. 2015. Evolution and prenatal development: an evolutionary perspective. in: Lerner, R. and Lamb, M. (ed.) Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science: Volume 3 Socioemotional Processes Wiley. pp. 57-105
Differences in aggression and nest behavior between herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backer gulls (Larus fuscus) on Lundy
Spencer, R. and Dickins, T. 2014. Differences in aggression and nest behavior between herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backer gulls (Larus fuscus) on Lundy. Journal of the Lundy Field Society. 4, pp. 85-104.
Science in the wild
Dickins, T. 2014. Science in the wild. The Psychologist. 27 (5), pp. 332-333.
Why does relative deprivation affect mental health? The role of justice, trust and social rank in psychological wellbeing and paranoid ideation
Wickham, S., Shryane, N., Lyons, M., Dickins, T. and Bentall, R. 2014. Why does relative deprivation affect mental health? The role of justice, trust and social rank in psychological wellbeing and paranoid ideation. Journal of Public Mental Health. 13 (2), pp. 114-126. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-06-2013-0049
The gradual extinction of transferred avoidance stimulus functions
Garcia-Guerrero, S., Dickins, T. and Dickins, D. 2014. The gradual extinction of transferred avoidance stimulus functions. Psychological Record. 64 (3), pp. 581-599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-014-0062-7
The niche construction perspective: a critical appraisal
Scott-Phillips, T., Laland, K., Shuker, D., Dickins, T. and West, S. 2014. The niche construction perspective: a critical appraisal. Evolution. 68 (5), pp. 1231-1243. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12332
Patterns of physical and psychological development in future teenage mothers
Nettle, D., Dickins, T., Coall, D. and De Mornay Davies, P. 2013. Patterns of physical and psychological development in future teenage mothers. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 2013 (1), pp. 187-196. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eot016
Epigenetic adaptations: a reply to Suter, Boffelli and Martin
Dickins, T. and Rahman, Q. 2013. Epigenetic adaptations: a reply to Suter, Boffelli and Martin. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 280 (1771), p. 20131820. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.1820
Animal behaviour fieldwork: introducing psychology students to the process of science
Dickins, T. and Donovan, P. 2012. Animal behaviour fieldwork: introducing psychology students to the process of science. HE Academy STEM Conference. London, UK 12 - 13 Apr 2012 https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsptr.2012.18.2.9
The extended evolutionary synthesis and the role of soft inheritance in evolution
Dickins, T. and Rahman, Q. 2012. The extended evolutionary synthesis and the role of soft inheritance in evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 279 (1740), pp. 2913-2921. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0273
Teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom: a behavioral ecological perspective
Dickins, T., Johns, S. and Chipman, A. 2012. Teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom: a behavioral ecological perspective. Journal of Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology. 6 (3), pp. 344-359. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0099247
Early-life conditions and age at first pregnancy in British women
Nettle, D., Coall, D. and Dickins, T. 2011. Early-life conditions and age at first pregnancy in British women. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 278 (1712), pp. 1721-1727. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.1726
Two more things for consideration: sexual orientation and conduct disorder
Dickins, T. and Sergeant, M.J.T. 2009. Two more things for consideration: sexual orientation and conduct disorder. Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 32 (3-4), p. 275. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X09990252
Changes in art: market forces or evolution? A response to Colin Martindale
Dickins, T. 2009. Changes in art: market forces or evolution? A response to Colin Martindale. Empirical Studies of the Arts. 27 (2), pp. 159-165. https://doi.org/10.2190/EM.27.2.g
Birthweight and paternal involvement predict early reproduction in British women: evidence from the National Child Development Study
Nettle, D., Coall, D. and Dickins, T. 2009. Birthweight and paternal involvement predict early reproduction in British women: evidence from the National Child Development Study. American Journal of Human Biology. 22 (2), pp. 172-179. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.20970
Social dominance and sexual orientation
Dickins, T. and Sergeant, M. 2008. Social dominance and sexual orientation. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. 6 (1), pp. 57-71. https://doi.org/10.1556/JEP.2008.1003
Mother Nature's tolerant ways: why non-genetic inheritance has nothing to do with evolution
Dickins, T. and Dickins, B. 2008. Mother Nature's tolerant ways: why non-genetic inheritance has nothing to do with evolution. New Ideas in Psychology. 26 (1), pp. 41-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2007.03.004
Sex-related invariance across cultures in an online role-playing game
Levene, R. and Dickins, T. 2008. Sex-related invariance across cultures in an online role-playing game. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. 6 (2), pp. 141-148.
Is this conjectural phenotypic dichotomy a plausible outcome of genomic imprinting?
Dickins, B., Dickins, D. and Dickins, T. 2008. Is this conjectural phenotypic dichotomy a plausible outcome of genomic imprinting? Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 31 (3), pp. 267-268. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X08004287
Psychology, biology and the market place: response to John Radford’s 'Psychology in its place'
Dickins, T. 2008. Psychology, biology and the market place: response to John Radford’s 'Psychology in its place'. Psychology Teaching Review. 14 (2), pp. 17-20. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsptr.2008.14.2.17
Synthesis in the human evolutionary behavioural sciences
Sear, R., Lawson, D. and Dickins, T. 2007. Synthesis in the human evolutionary behavioural sciences. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. 5 (1), pp. 3-28. https://doi.org/10.1556/JEP.2007.1019
Designed calibration: naturally selected flexibility, not non-genetic inheritance (commentary)
Dickins, T. and Dickins, B. 2007. Designed calibration: naturally selected flexibility, not non-genetic inheritance (commentary). Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 30 (4), pp. 368-369. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X07002269
Mind the gap(s)... in theory, method and data: Re-examining Kanazawa (2006)
Dickins, T., Sear, R. and Wells, A. 2007. Mind the gap(s)... in theory, method and data: Re-examining Kanazawa (2006). British Journal of Health Psychology. 12 (2), pp. 167-178. https://doi.org/10.1348/135910707X174339
The phylogeny and ontogeny of adaptations
Dickins, T. 2006. The phylogeny and ontogeny of adaptations. Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 29 (3), pp. 283-284. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X06279068
Evolutionary health psychology
Dickins, T. 2006. Evolutionary health psychology. Health Psychology Update. 15 (1), pp. 4-10. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpshpu.2006.15.1.4
Aggression, empathy and sexual orientation in males
Sergeant, M., Dickins, T., Davies, M. and Griffiths, M. 2006. Aggression, empathy and sexual orientation in males. Personality and Individual Differences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.07.002
On sociosexual cognitive architecture
Dickins, T. 2005. On sociosexual cognitive architecture. Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 28 (2), pp. 280-281. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X05280056
Can there ever be a non-specific adaptation? A response to Simon J. Hampton
Dickins, T. 2005. Can there ever be a non-specific adaptation? A response to Simon J. Hampton. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 35 (3), pp. 329-340. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5914.2005.00275.x
The self-reported importance of olfaction during human mate choice
Sergeant, M., Davies, M., Dickins, T. and Griffiths, M. 2005. The self-reported importance of olfaction during human mate choice. Sexualities, Evolution and Gender. 7 (3). https://doi.org/10.1080/14616660500173685
Social constructionism as cognitive science
Dickins, T. 2004. Social constructionism as cognitive science. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 34 (4), pp. 333-352. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5914.2004.00253.x
What can evolutionary psychology tell us about cognitive architecture?
Dickins, T. 2003. What can evolutionary psychology tell us about cognitive architecture? History and Philosophy of Psychology. 5 (1), pp. 1-16.
General Symbol Machines: The first stage in the evolution of symbolic communication
Dickins, T. 2003. General Symbol Machines: The first stage in the evolution of symbolic communication. Evolutionary Psychology. 1 (1), pp. 192-209. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470490300100116
Is empirical imagination a constraint on adaptationist theory construction?
Dickins, T. and Dickins, D. 2002. Is empirical imagination a constraint on adaptationist theory construction? Behavioral and Brain Sciences: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary. 25 (4), pp. 515-516. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X02320090
Symbols, stimulus equivalence and the origins of language
Dickins, T. and Dickins, D. 2001. Symbols, stimulus equivalence and the origins of language. Behavior and Philosophy. 29, pp. 221-244. https://doi.org/2-s2.0-0038752299
Evolution, development and learning - a nested hierarchy?
Dickins, T. and Levy, J. 2001. Evolution, development and learning - a nested hierarchy? in: French, R.M. and Sougné, J.P. (ed.) Connectionist Models of Learning, Development and Evolution: Proceedings of the Sixth Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, Liège, Belgium, 16–18 September 2000 Springer. pp. 263-270