Intellectual Development

Question 1

What are the 4 stages of Piagets model for cognitive development and age ranges?

Answer 1

Sensorimotor- 0-2 years
Preoperational- 2-7 years
Concrete operational- 7-11
Formal Operational- 11-18

Question 2

What occurs in the sensorimotor stage?

Answer 2

Object permanance, learn through trial and error, interact using their senses, play peekaboo

Question 3

What is object permanence?

Answer 3

When a child knows that an object still exists even if they cannot see it

Question 4

What occurs in the preoperational stage?

Answer 4

Can not conserve, thinking is egocentric, parallel play, make-believe play, develop language

Question 5

What does not being able to conserve mean?

Answer 5

Do not understand that although appearance changes, quantity stays the same

Question 6

What is the test of conservation?

Answer 6

When you move liquid from a wide container to a small, thin container, it does not affect its volume

Question 7

What does egocentric mean?

Answer 7

When a child only sees something from their own point of view.

Question 8

What is parallel play?

Answer 8

when they play next to other children, rather than with them

Question 8

What is the mountain task?

Answer 8

When the child is asked what they can see, they only say the things that are right in front of them, rather than the obvious mountain.

Question 9

What happens in the concerete operational stage?

Answer 9

children can conserve, less egocentric, better understanding of problem solving when they can see the problem, but may find it difficult to imagine solutions (concrete logical thinking)

Question 10

What is concerete logical thinking?

Answer 10

the ability to solve problems if they can see it visually

Question 11

What happens in the formal operational stage?

Answer 11

Developed abstract thinking

Question 12

What is abstract thinking?

Answer 12

They can think through complicated ideas in their head without having to visually see the image

Question 13

What is a Schema?

Answer 13

A category of knowledge

Question 14

How do schemas work?

Answer 14

The child develops new concepts which brings to a state of equilibrium, however when new information is presented, the schema becomes upset and reaches a state of disequilibrium. Then the original schema is changed so the child reaches a state of equilibrium again, e.g. cow and horse

Question 15

Strengths of Piagets model:

Answer 15

• his work influenced early education
• considers nature and nurture
• stimulated further research which increased knowdedge of childrens cognitive development

Question 16

Weakness of Piagets model:

Answer 16

• observed a small number of children
• stages of intellectual development may be more fluid than he thought
• Bruner says with adult support, children can progress to higher level thining skills
• may take longer than 11 years to be skilled at abstract logical thinking

Question 17

What does Chomsky believe?

Answer 17

that the ability to develop language is genetically programmed

Question 18

What does Chomskys Model of Language Acquisition suggest?

Answer 18

It enables children to recognise and develop the langauge they experience, and it has evolved naturally

Question 19

What does Chomsky believe there is from childhood to adolescence?

Answer 19

A critical period where if children do not learn a language during this time, then they may never be able to fully develop it.

Question 20

What is another two beliefs of Chomsky?

Answer 20

• He believes children cannot learn through imitation alone, as many people use slang and incorrect words
• He believed babies need to experience other people using language but they do not need to be trained in order to speak

Question 21

What did he note about grammar?

Answer 21

Even if adults use correct grammar around children, they will still pronounce some words incorrectly, like applying plurals to some words e.g. geeses

Question 22

Weaknesses to Chomskys model:

Answer 22

• Lack of scientific evidence
• did not consider children with delayed language development
• Bruner argues social interaction is critical and has more influence than Chomsky suggests

Question 23

How can language development be promoted?

Answer 23

Infants: blow bubbles, picture books, play with puppets
Young children: stories and rhymes, imaginary play, take part in group activities
Adolescence: Read a range of books, plan and deliver presentations, discuss ideas

Question 24

What happens to thinking in early adulthood?

Answer 24

• Thinking becomes realistic and pragmatic, with expert knowledge about the practical aspects of life that permits judgement about important matters.

Question 25

What happens to memory in later adulthood?

Answer 25

• Takes longer to learn and recall information
• Physiological changes may cause a temporary malfunction in brain function

Question 26

Is degeneration of the brain inevitable?

Answer 26

Yes:
-STM and mental abilities are affected by ageing and may decline (fluid intelligence)
No:
- New brain cells can be produced at any age
- Some LTM are unaffected by ageing, e.g. ability to play the piano (Crystallised intelligence)