3 - Cognition and Intelligence Flashcards
What is cognition?
Mental process by which knowledge is acquired, elaborated, stored, retrieved and used
What was Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development?
Explains how a child constructs a mental model of the world. He disagreed with the idea that intelligence was a fixed trait, and regarded cognitive development as a process which occurs due to biological maturation and interaction with the environment.
How children think rather than what they may know
What are the 4 stages of cognitive development (Piaget)?
- 0-2 years: sensorimotor
- 2-7 years: pre-operational
- 7-11 years: concrete operational
- 11+ years: formal operational
What is the sensorimotor stage?
- 6 substages
- Object permanence
- Develop memory systems around 8 months
- Self-recognition around 18 months
What is object permanence?
Understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be perceived
What is the pre-operational stage?
- Egocentrism - can’t see others perspectives
- Theory of mind around 4-5 years
- Conservation of mass
- Centration
What is the theory of mind?
4-5 years –> learn about other’s emotional states and allows social development
What happens if there is no theory of mind?
Autism
What is concrete operational stage?
- Operational thought is reversible (can pour water into any size glass and know volume is same)
- Direct sensory access (think of real and imaginable things)
What is the formal operational stage?
Systematic thinking, consider alternatives, plan ahead
What is centration?
Thoughts centred around 1 idea at a time
Who came up with the 4 stages of cognitive development?
Jean Piaget
What is IQ influenced by?
Genetics, social/racial differences, environment, culture
What are the uses of IQ tests?
o Identifying educational needs
o Assessment following neurological trauma, learning disability, cognitive impairment
o Predicting school performance & job success
What are the limitations of IQ tests?
o Is IQ stable?
o Does not measure underlying competence or ‘world skills’