Figure 3.

Conceptual schematic of the ontological development of motivational-behavioral repertoires according to a scale-free organizing principal. Functional spheres and emerging behavioral nodes that may be classified as closely related to these functional spheres are correspondingly color-coded. Only a small number of the much larger number of nodes comprising real behavioral repertoires are depicted here for conceptual clarity. In the childhood and adult systems, each graphically represented node may also be viewed as representing a local scale-free neighborhood of many interrelated motivational links and behavioral nodes. Fundamental survival-dependent spheres of function (A) emerge in the form of the behavioral repertoire of the newborn (B). Into and throughout childhood (C), the emergence of numerous new skills and behaviors are hierarchically clustered around key behavioral hubs that subserve fundamental survival functions. In adolescence/adulthood (D), new behavioral nodes form from integrative events between behavioral nodes of childhood origin, and motivational repertoires are re-aligned according to the exploration and mastery of adult social, sexual and occupational roles.