Cognitive & Moral Development

Question 0

What are the FOUR stages of cognitive development according to Piaget?

Answer 0

1) Sensory-Motor
2) Pre-operational
3) Concrete operational
4) Formal operational

Question 1

Define Cognitive Development

Answer 1

The construction of cognitive processes from childhood through adolescence to adulthood.

Question 2

What are the cognitive processes associated with the “Sensory-motor stage”?

(Hint: object permanence)

Answer 2

SENSORY-MOTOR (0-2 yrs)
• Object permanence:
This is the stage where the child does not know that physical objects remain in existence even when out of sight.

Question 3

What are the cognitive processes associated with the “Pre-operational stage”?

(Hint: Egocentrism)

Answer 3

PRE-OPERATIONAL STAGE (2-7 yrs)

• Children learn how to interact with their environment in a more complex manner through the use of words and images.

• Egocentrism:
The child believes that everyone sees the world the same way they do.

Question 4

What are the cognitive processes associated with the “Concrete operational” ?

(Hint: conservation)

Answer 4

CONCRETE OPERATIONAL (7-11 yrs)

• Develops the ability to think logically and carry out mental operations, provided they work with CONCRETE materials.

• CONSERVATION:
Understands the weight, mass, volume and area doesn’t change when the shape changes.

Question 5

What are the cognitive processes associated with the “Formal operational” ?

Answer 5

FORMAL OPERATIONAL (12+ yrs)

• ABSTRACT THINKING:
At this stage, children are able to think without relying on being able to see or handle concrete materials to reason about them.

Question 6

What are THREE contributions of Piaget’s Cognitive Theory?

Answer 6

1) There is a universal sequence in cognitive development.
2) Children construct an understanding of the world through interactions with the environment.
3) Children’s cognitive processes become more complex as they progress through the stages.

Question 7

What are FIVE criticisms of Piaget’s Theory?

Answer 7

1) Donaldson (1978)
2) Siegal (1991)
3) Narrow sample population
4) Cannot distinguish between competence and performance
5) Too little emphasis on the contribution of cultural and social interactions to a child’s cognitive development.

Question 8

What was Donaldson (1978)’s criticism of Piaget’s cognitive development theory?

Answer 8

Donaldson (1978) believed that the THREE MOUNTAIN TASK test of egocentrism is abstract and doesn’t have a real-world sense to children.
Failure in the Piagetian task is not due to egocentrism but unfamiliarity to the situation.

(Martin Hughe’s policeman task was more realistic because children are more familiar with hide and seek games)

Question 18

What was Siegal (1991)’s criticism of Piaget’s cognitive theory?

Answer 18

Piaget (1991) believed that children’s failure in the Piagetian task testing conservation was due to adults BREAKING THE CONVERSATION RULES OF CHILDREN.
Repeating a question when an answer was already given makes the child assume they are wrong, so the change their answer even though they thought their answer was initially correct.

Question 19

Describe Stage 5 of Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 19

Asserting and integrating basic rights, values and legal contracts.

Laws are regarded as social contracts rather than rigid dictums.
Although law should be respected, individual rights can sometimes supersede these laws of they become too destructive or restrictive.

Question 20

Describe Stage 6 of Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 20

Commitment to universal principals of justice; respect for others.
Moral action is determined by inner conscience and may, or may not, be in agreement with public opinion or society’s laws.

Question 21

What are the contributions of Kohlberg’s theory? (4)

Answer 21

1) There is a universal sequence in the development of morality
2) Stages are age-dependent and begin in early childhood
3) Moral development is closely linked to cognitive development
4) Moral reasoning is culturally dependent

Question 22

What are the criticisms of Kohlberg’s theory? (5)

Answer 22

1) Gilligan (1982)
2) Scweder (1991)
3) Moral Dilemma scenario is too difficult for children to relate to and is too hypothetical
4) Stages beyond 4 are rare
5) Some people skip stages or revert to earlier stages.

Question 23

Which of Piaget and Kohlberg’s theory’s are linked ?

Answer 23

1) Pre-operational stage & Pre-conventional level
2) Concrete operational stage & Conventional level
3) Formal operational stage & Post-conventional level

Question 24

How is the Pre-operational stage and the Pre-conventional level linked?

Answer 24

Both are related to EGOCENTRICISM, where the child believes everyone sees the world the same way they do.

Question 25

How is the concrete operational and conventional level linked?

Answer 25

Both focus on concrete rules and ideas:
CONCRETE OPERATIONAL states that children can understand concrete ideas such as conservation of mass, volume and length but limited in the ability for abstract thinking.

CONVENTIONAL LEVEL states that children are able to focus on concrete laws.
Breaking the laws result in punishment, following them means being rewarded.

Question 26

How are the Formal Operational stages and the Post-Conventional level linked?

Answer 26

FORMAL OPERATIONAL STAGE:
Abstract and integrative reasoning in problem solving.

POST-CONVENTIONAL STAGE:
Integration of empathy towards others and addressing of own priorities.

Question 27

Why is “cannot distinguish between competence and performance” a criticism of Piaget’s theory?

Answer 27

Tasks require verbal responses. Children may know how to perform task but lack the verbal skill to explain their answers.

Question 28

What are the three LEVELS of Kohlberg’s moral development stages?

Answer 28

1) PRE-CONVENTIONAL
2) CONVENTIONAL
3) POST-CONVENTIONAL

Question 29

What are the two stages in the PRE-CONVENTIONAL level of Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 29

Stage 1= Obedience and Punishment driven; Egocentrism

Stage 2= Self-Interest driven

Question 30

Describe Stage 1 of Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 30

• What is wrong and right is determined by what is punishable. Moral action is basically the avoidance of punishment.
• Does not recognize different POV; confuses perspective of authority WITB one’s own opinion.

Question 31

Describe Stage 2 of Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 31

What is wrong and right is determined by what brings rewards and what people want.

Other people’s wants and needs come into the picture, but only in the reciprocal sense.

Question 32

What are the two stages in the CONVENTIONAL level of Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 32

Stage 3= Interpersonal accord and conformity driven

Stage 4= Authority and social order driven

Question 33

Describe Stage 3 of Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 33

Being moral is being a “good person” in your own eyes and those of others.

What the majority thinks is right is right by definition.

Question 34

Describe Stage 4 of Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 34

Being good means “doing one’s duty”-

Adopting the view of the system, obeying laws and upholding social order.

Question 35

What are the two stages associated with the POST-CONVENTIONAL level of Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 35

Stage 5= Social contract driven

Stage 6= Universal ethical principals