A2: Piaget - Schemas and Egocentrism

Question 1

What is a schema?

Answer 1

• a category of knowledge as well as a process of acquiring new skills
• they describe both mental and physical actions involved in understanding and knowing

Question 2

What is Piaget’s view on schemas?

Answer 2

• schemas include both the category of knowledge and process of obtaining that knowledge
• as experiences happen, this new information is used to modify, add to, or change previously existing schemas

Question 3

What is an example of a schema?

Answer 3

• a child may have a schema about a type of animal (eg a dog)
• if the child’s sole experience has been with small dogs, they may believe all dogs are small, furry, and have 4 legs (EQUILIBRIUM)
• suppose then the child encounters an enormous dog (DISEQUILIBRIUM)
• child will take this new information, modifying the previously existing schema to include these new observations (ACCOMODATION)

Question 4

Schemas help us to…

Answer 4

• interpret and understand the world

Question 5

What is egocentrism?

Answer 5

• a young child’s inability to see a situation from another persons point of view

Question 6

What does egocentric behaviour centre on?

Answer 6

• centres on the abilities that the child has not yet developed (similar to the concept of conservation)

Question 7

What is the assumption of egocentrism?

Answer 7

• that other adults and children see, feel, and hear exactly the same as they do

Question 8

What is an example of egocentric behaviour?

Answer 8

• in the nursery, preoperational children play (parallel play) as they play next to another child or adult
• BUT: they are absorbed in their own world and often talk, but they are talking to themselves or expressing their play
• THEY ARE NOT SPEAKING TO ANYONE