The Adaptive Toolbox and Lifespan Development: Common Questions?

Abstract

In this chapter, I explore the relationship between the vision of bounded rationality as an adaptive toolbox (e.g., Gigerenzer, Todd, & the ABC Research Group, 1999) and the vision of development as selection-optimization-compensation (Baltes, 1997, this volume). Both approaches are metatheories that advise us as to what questions to ask and what kinds of models to build. Both have an affinity for the use of evolutionary thinking as a guideline for what problems to address. Beyond this, however, are there similar ideas? Contradictions? And most important, is there a fruitful transfer of ideas and questions?