Piaget's theory of cognitive development

Question 1

cognitive development

Answer 1

the development of all mental processes, in particular thinking reasoning and a persons understanding of the world

Question 2

schema

Answer 2

they are mental frameworks of belief and expectations that influence cognitive processing. schemas become increasingly complex during development as more information is acquired about each object or idea

Question 3

assimilation

Answer 3

a form of learning that takes place when new information is acquired or there is a more advanced understanding of an object a person or idea. the new information does not radically change the understanding of the topic, so information can be incorporated (assimilated) into an existing schema

Question 4

Accommodation

Answer 4

A form of learning that takes place when new information is acquired that radically changes the understanding of a topic to. The new information means that new schemas need to be formed to deal with the knowledge. The alternative is that the existing schema have a major reorganisation to deal with the new understanding.

Question 5

Equilibrium

Answer 5

state of balance. This is a ‘pleasant’ feeling.

Question 6

Disequilibrium

Answer 6

state of unbalance. This is an ‘unpleasant’ feeling. It motivates a return to equilibrium.

Question 7

Equilibration

Answer 7

This takes place when new information is encountered and built into the understanding of a topic, either by assimilating it into an existing schema or accommodating it by forming a new one. Everything is again balanced, and the unpleasant experience of a lack of balance - disequilibrium is avoided.