A2: intellectual development across ls

Question 1

Piaget stage theory of cognitive development

Answer 1

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

Question 2

sensorimotor stage

Answer 2

0-2 (typically)
learn through senses and motor actions, live in the present (lacks schema) no object permanence
blanket and ball study (1963)

Question 3

blanket and ball study (1963)

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Pre-operational

Answer 4

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)

Question 5

three mountains (1956)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

concrete operational

Answer 6

7-11 (typically)
development of logical thought - need concrete evidence
ability to conserve
less egocentric

Question 7

conservation (1954)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

formal operational

Answer 8

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)

Question 9

pendulum task (1958)

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

schema

Answer 10

A mental pocket of information, a category of knowledge, process of acquiring knowledge

Question 11

equilibrium

Answer 11

when the world around you matches your schema

Question 12

disequilibrium

Answer 12

when you’re presented with new information and it doesn’t fit with your existing schema

Question 13

accommodation

Answer 13

modifying existing schema with new information

Question 14

assimilation

Answer 14

creating a new schema for new information

Question 15

egocentrism

Answer 15

only seeing the world from your own point of view

Question 16

conservation

Answer 16

the ability to understand quality/ number does not change despite a change in appearance

Question 17

Chomsky model of language acquisition

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Language acquisition device
(LAD)

Answer 18

• A device you are born with that helps you learn language, there’s a critical period that it must be activated by.

Question 19

evidence for the LAD:

Answer 19

if an adult says something incorrectly the child would notice.
children say things that are ungrammatical (could not be learnt passively)

Question 20

how can the LAD be criticised?

Answer 20

lack of scientific evidence.
delayed language development eg. down’s syndrome

Question 21

case study (LAD): Genie

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

intellectual development early to middle adulthood

Answer 22

individuals apply the knowledge skills and experience that have gained. helps them to think logically and find realistic answers

Question 23

memory loss in later adulthood

Answer 23

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