Piaget's theory of cognitive development Flashcards
What is a schema?
Knowledge that we possess and use to form a mental reputation of the world.
Are babies born with schemas?
Yes, Piaget suggested that babies are born with reflex schemas that become more complex with experience, and are always being added to.
What is ‘assimilation’?
The process where we gain new and more advanced info about any pre-existing schema.
(Squidge into our old schemas).
What is ‘accommodation’?
When we receive completely new information. In order to understand this we must create a new schema.
Assimilation + Accommodation=
Adaptation.
What is Equilibrium?
The preferred mental state (it is the norm).
When is equilibrium achieved?
When new information makes sense and no new schemas have to be made.
What is Disequilibrium?
The unpleasant feeling when something doesn’t make sense. Change leads to discomfort.
Give advantages of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
+Revolutionised modern day teaching practices.
Has real life applications, children need physical exploration and hands on learning (lone scientists).
+Supporting evidence from Howe.
Every child had learnt something new but different, they assimilate and accommodate different pieces of information.
Everyone’s schema changes in a different way.
Give disadvantages of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
-Underestimated the role of other people.
For some people, learning is easier when you have an expert explaining and demonstrating things.
-Overestimated the role of equilibrium.
Not everyone has the same motivations to remove disequilibrium. And even if they do the motivation could come from somewhere else.
