piaget theory of cog development Flashcards
what is cognition
acquiring and processing knowledge
what is cognitive development
age related changes in perceiving, learning, thinking, attending and remembering
jean piaget basis
genetic epistemology: experimental study of origins and development of knowledge
what does piaget define intelligence as
basic life function that helps organisms adapt
key terms for how children develop cognition
equilibration
constructivism
cognitive schemas
what is equilibration
achieving balance between thought process and environment
what is constructivism
children construct knowledge of reality, they are active agents
what are cognitive schemas
mental frameworks to help us categorise and understand information, schemas evolve and become more complex as we develop
cognitive schema stages
- behavioural (sensorimotor)
0-2yrs
through direct overt actions e.g reaching, grabbing - symbolic
3-7yrs
children can think about objects and events without acting on them
3.operational
7+ yrs
children use cognitive operations, many correspond to mathematical symbols and show reversibility e.g if a>b then b<a
how do children use this knowledge (schemas)
-organisation: combining existing schemas, promotes adaptation
-adaptation: adjusting to the environment, consists of assimilation
-assimilation: interpret new experience in terms of existing knowledge, if this fails then children use…
-accommodation: modify existing cognitive structures to account for new experiences
piagets stages of cog development
- sensorimotor: 0-2yrs
- preoperational: 2-7yrs
- concrete operational: 7-11yrs
- operational: 12+yrs
what are the milestones of the sensorimotor stage
object permanence and imitation
what are the milestones of the preoperational stage
pretend play and egocentrism
what are the milestones of the concrete operational stage
conservation and mathematical transformation
what are the milestones of the operational stage
abstract thought and mature moral reasoning
what is the sensorimotor stage
infants explore through senses and actions
sub stages
-reflex activity
-primary circular reactions
-secondary circular reactions
-coordination of secondary schemas
-tertiary circular reactions
-symbolic problem solving
how is object permanence tested
the A not B error
-toy hidden under location A and child selects location A
-toy moved to location B but child choose location A
what is object permanence
believing object still present when not seen
weaknesses of A not B test
-infants born with more knowledge than piagat thought
-tests are too difficult, cant demonstrate knowledge bc of performance limitations
what is the diff study for object permanence
Baillargeon and DeVos 1991
-when infant looks at unexpected event longer they are surprised
-tall carrot passing behind a small curtain
what is the preoperational stage
-children mentally represent objects and events with images or words
-2 sub stages
1.preconceptual period (2-4yrs):
–representational insight = symbols stand for things (language, pictures, symbolic play),
–deficit in reasoning = animalism, reality distinction, egocentrism, lacking dual representation
2. intuitive period
–lack of reversibility (cannot mentally undo actions)
–centration: focus on one salient feature, see things as they appear to be, not thinking logically
–shows conservation failure e.g liquids moved into diff glasses but same volume
critiques of preoperational stage
-children not always egocentric, depends on how task is presented Hughes 1975
-animalism depends on context, children only assume novel entities that move on their own are alive
-conservation tasks are solved after training (identity training = children learn that objects can undergo transformations)
what is animalism
all that moves is alive
Heider simmel 1994
what is the concrete operational stage
-children can decenter and mentally reverse so can solve conservation problems
-can use relational logic and perform mental seriation
-have transivity: if a>b and b>c then a>c
-horizontal decalage: some tasks requiring similar operations are easier than others
what is the formal operations stage
-formal operations not solely based in concrete reality but are mental reactions on ideas e.g higher maths
-not all adults are proficient formal operators
-formal schooling is key in this stage
-older children and adults always perform best in familiar contexts
evaluation of piagets theory
do the developmental stages exist?
piaget stated children are active independent agents of their own cog growth but this ignores social and cultural influences
