Cognition and Development (not finished)

Question 1

Describe Selman’s Stages of Social Cognition in order

Answer 1

1. Undifferentiated (Egocentric) - 3-6 yrs –> Children confuse their views with those of others
2. Social-Informational - 4-9 yrs –> Children know people have different views because of different access to information
3. Self-Reflective - 7-12 yrs –> Children can view themselves and a situation from someone else’s perspective
4. Third-Person - 10-15 yrs –> Children can view themselves and a situation from a third person perspective
5. Societal - 14+ yrs –> Children understand that perspectives are influenced by personal and societal contexts

Question 2

Define social cognition

Answer 2

The ability to process, store and retrieve information related to social situations and other people

Question 3

How did Selman investigate his theory of perspective-taking? (Check?)

Answer 3

• He gave children aged (how old?) scenarios with multiple characters (and therefore perspectives)
• He then asked them questions that forced them to take the perspective of the different characters e.g. Holly climbing the tree to save a kitten even though she promised her father she would not after she fell last time.
• The answers were then categorised into the 5 levels to show how perspective taking develops as a child ages