Childhood: Personality, Cognition, and Morality Flashcards
Briefly define stage theory, who was it opposing?
Opposing Freud -> a stage is a chapter in development where certain characteristics of behaviour and ability emerge. Happens over lifespan
What three things do stage theories assume?
- Stages must be progressed through in a specific order
- Strongly related to age
- Marked by major discontinuities that cause dramatic transitions in behaviour
Describe Erikson’s stage theory
Eight stages that announce psychosocial crises during which two tendencies will struggle for dominance. Winner will be represented in personality more.
What is a psychosocial crisis?
Transition in important social relationships
What are the first two stages as outlined by Erikson? When do they occur? What questions do they ask?
- Trust vs Mistrust (first year): “is my world supportive and predictable?” biological needs must be met, then secure attachments and optimism formed
- Auntonomy vs Shame/Doubt (2nd year): “Can I do things myself or must I rely on others? Has to accomplish some responsibilities (T-training), shame will follow if parents aren’t satisfied
What are the NEXT two stages as outlined by Erikson? When do they occur? What questions do they ask?
- Initiative vs Guilt: (3-6) “ Am I good or bad?” experimenting with rules, may feel guilt if parents punish them. Should strike a balance between initiative and respecting feelings
- Industry vs inferiority: (6-puberty) “Am I competent or am I worthless?” Enters environments where hard work is prized, hopefully will feel competent
What are some pros/cons of Erikson’s theory?
Pro: has both continuity and transitions
Con: not always a linear progression, used case studies
Define cognitive development
Pattern of transitions in regards to the way we think
What did Piaget hope to learn with child cognition? what did he say, how did this reveal what he thought babies did?
Hoped to see how our learning process develops over time. “each child is a little scientist” -> develop through exploration of environment
Describe assimilation and accommodation in regards to Piaget’s theory
Ass: Interpreting new information through existing mental patterns (sees cat for first time, calls it a dog)
Acc: Changing mental structures to accommodate new experiences (adjusts after mistake, learns what a cat looks like)
Describe the first stage of cognitive development as outlined by Piaget
- Sensorimotor period (0-2): coordination of sensory and motor input. ends with concept of object permanence, before only cognizant of what’s immediately perceptible
Describe the SECOND stage of cognitive development as outlined by Piaget
- Pre-operational period (2-7): improvement of mental images, still shortcomings. Kids will think water in taller glass is greater
When do babies begin to grasp object permanence?
When things only are partially covered in view
What are the 4 limitations to pre-operational stage?
- centration: just one feature (height and not width of water). Want two pieces of toast, break one in half and are happy
- Irreversibility: can’t envision the reverse of an action (pouring tall glass back into short one)
- egocentrism: hard to see something from someone else’s view. (asking a girl with a sister how many sisters her sister has, will say none) (also irreversibility)
- animism (part of egocentrism) ->belief that all things are living (why is the wind mad?)
What are operations in the context of Piaget’s theory?
Transformations of mental structures (envisioning things happening in head)
