How did the contemporary theory of dynamic systems impact motor development thinking?

• A. Only certain systems interact at any one time and sometimes these aid in motor development
• B. Many systems within the body and the external environment aid in motor development
• C. The neural network, and its development, are responsible for most muscular development
• D. This theory looks at external influences only

Answer: (B)

Movement emerges from the interaction of many constraints, not just one system. The dynamic systems view says that motor development happens as multiple subsystems—inside the body (muscles, bones, senses, cognition) and outside the body (task demands, surface, tools, social and environmental context)—coadjust and organize themselves to produce action. Because of this interconnectedness, changes in one area (like a different floor surface, a new toy, or a change in support) can shift how a movement is organized, leading to new patterns of motion without needing changes in a single underlying system. This explains why motor development is influenced by a wide mix of body-internal factors and environmental factors working together. The best way to capture this idea is that many systems within the body and the external environment aid in motor development.