Surrogation: A Process in Psychological Evolution

Abstract

In these comments it is proposed that the process of surrogation plays a considerable part in the evolution of psychological events. The process is described as it develops and later is used in both correct and incorrect thinking.

Psychological surrogation begins as a departure from biological activity in which organisms act on the basis of patterns of cellular structures. Surrogation in the earliest stages constitutes extentions of the biological interbehavior of integrated organisms. Among the first beginnings of surrogational behavior appear the tool-using animals, for example, the dam-building beavers, the pebble-dropping wasps, or the nest-building birds, as well as the inevitable intercommunication of organisms. An early human surrogatory action is the use of animal skins to aid the interbehavior with inclement weather conditions.

The most significant advancements in human psychological evolution are in the development of counting and recording. Essentially these are processes of employing serial acts as surrogates and auxiliaries for current and future behavior. Continuous advancement is marked by the development of subtle intellectual behavior surrogates such as ideas, hypotheses, theories, models, and laws, even though paralleled by the construction of myths, legends, and castles in the air.