4 - Cognitive Flashcards
Who believes that development is mostly discontinuous
Piaget
What is discontinuous development
Cognition develops through series of distinct stages
Is development entirely continuous/discontinuous
No
Stage theory
Universally experienced, invariant stages of development
How does stage theory explain individual differences?
Speed of development
Domain General Mechanism
All abilities are linked (not separate categories like math, interpersonal etc.)
According to Piaget, where do individual strengths come from?
Interest -> pursuit of knowledge/learning/exploring
What does “Children as active agents” mean?
Children seek stimulation out of what interests them in their environment
Constructivist approach
Children build knowledge through interactions with their environment
Assimilation
New experience incorporated into child’s existing theories (specific -> general)
Accommodation
New experiences modify a child’s theory (general -> specific)
Schemas
Small units of information allowing for the construction of knowledge
What are the 4 stages of cognitive development (Piaget)
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete operational
Formal operational
Sensorimotor age range
0-2
Preoperational age range
2-7
Concrete operational age range
7-11
Formal operational age range
11+
What age does goal directed behaviour/cause and effect emerge?
8-12 months
A-not-B error
Hide something in spot A repeatedly, baby will find it. Hide it in spot B (in front of baby) and they will look in spot A
Preoperational stage
Children cannot for mental operations, must rely on external operations
Conservation of liquid task
Shown 2 glasses with same amount of liquid, 1 glass poured into tall skinny glass. Child in pre operational will think tall glass = more liquid
Reversibility
Ability to go through series of steps in reverse direction to solve a problem
Conservation
Understanding that same amount remains despite changes in appearance
Egocentrism
Understanding limited to own perspective, lack of cognitive flexibility