A2: intellectual development across ls Flashcards
Piaget stage theory of cognitive development
children pass through a series of stages in cognitive development. stages are by age but can be reached at any time, but the sequence is universal. children think differently to adults. infants use egocentric thinking
sensorimotor stage
0-2 (typically)
learn through senses and motor actions, live in the present (lacks schema) no object permanence
blanket and ball study (1963)
blanket and ball study (1963)
hid a toy under blanket while the child was watching and observed whether or not the child searched for the hidden toy. if they look for it they’ve developed object permanence
Pre-operational
2-7 (typically)
begins to use language to represent objects and ideas
continues to add/create new schemas. egocentric, does not understand concepts of conservation. Three mountains (1956)
three mountains (1956)
a display of mountains and a teddy bear, child is placed on a different side of the mountain to the bear and is asked what the bear can see
concrete operational
7-11 (typically)
development of logical thought - need concrete evidence
ability to conserve
less egocentric
conservation (1954)
same amount of water in two identical cups, one cup poured into taller and thinner glass, asked which has more water.
or two equal lines of counters, one line spaced out, asked which has more water
formal operational
11+ (typically)
learn more sophisticated rules of logic. They then use these rules to understand how abstract concepts work and to solve problems. Pendulum task (1958)
pendulum task (1958)
The method involved a length of string and a set of weights. Participants had to consider three factors, the length of the string, the heaviness of the weight, and the strength of the push.
work out which factor was most important in determining the speed of swing. They can measure the pendulum speed by counting the number of swings per minute.
schema
A mental pocket of information, a category of knowledge, process of acquiring knowledge
equilibrium
when the world around you matches your schema
disequilibrium
when you’re presented with new information and it doesn’t fit with your existing schema
accommodation
modifying existing schema with new information
assimilation
creating a new schema for new information
egocentrism
only seeing the world from your own point of view
conservation
the ability to understand quality/ number does not change despite a change in appearance
Chomsky model of language acquisition
the ability to develop a signed or spoken language is genetically programmed into individuals. have the ability to understand and use language, regardless of other abilities.
Language acquisition device
(LAD)
- A device you are born with that helps you learn language, there’s a critical period that it must be activated by.
evidence for the LAD:
if an adult says something incorrectly the child would notice.
children say things that are ungrammatical (could not be learnt passively)
how can the LAD be criticised?
lack of scientific evidence.
delayed language development eg. down’s syndrome
case study (LAD): Genie
was kept in a dark room and isolated from young, found as a teenager and couldn’t walk or talk, she wore nappies and made infant like noises. slept in a cage and chained to a potty. once rescued she learnt to talk but could only say small sentences and phrases. supports nurture.
intellectual development early to middle adulthood
individuals apply the knowledge skills and experience that have gained. helps them to think logically and find realistic answers
memory loss in later adulthood
the brain produces new brain cells at any age and lifestyle, health activities and family activities have an impact on the brain. decline in memory isn’t always a sign of dementia
