Theoretical Foundations of Child and Adolescent Development

Vocabulary flashcards covering Jean Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development and Erik Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development.

Jean Piaget

An influential 20th-century developmental psychologist born on August 9, 1896, who studied cognitive development in children and considered himself a Genetic Epistemologist.

Genetic Epistemologist

The title Jean Piaget used to describe his study of how children learn and acquire knowledge through development.

Cognition

Derived from the Latin word "cognoscere" (meaning to know, recognise, or conceptualise), it is the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

Cognitive Development

The gradual process by which people's thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities change and become more complex across the life span.

Schema

An internal cognitive structure or category representing pre-conceived ideas that helps an individual understand and interpret the world.

Assimilation

The cognitive process of fitting a new idea, object, or situation into an existing schema without altering the fundamental schema itself.

Accommodation

The cognitive process of altering an existing schema or developing a new schema when current knowledge does not work for a new object or situation.

Equilibration

The state of cognitive balance between applying previous knowledge (assimilation) and changing behavior for new information (accommodation) that enables progress to a new stage of development.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's first stage of cognitive development (0–2 years), in which infants explore the world through senses and physical actions and learn object permanence.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's second stage of cognitive development (2–7 years), characterized by language growth, symbol use, pretend play, egocentric thinking, and difficulty with conservation.

Egocentric Thinking

A cognitive characteristic seen in the preoperational stage where a child has difficulty seeing things from another person's perspective.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's third stage of cognitive development (7–11 years), where children begin to think logically about real or concrete events, understanding classification and conservation.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development (12 years and above), in which individuals develop the capacity for abstract, hypothetical reasoning and problem-solving.

Erik Erikson

A psychologist (born June 15, 1902, as Erik Salomonsen) known for his theory of psychosocial development spanning the whole lifespan.

Psychosocial Development Theory

Erik Erikson's eight-stage theory of personality, describing how social experience across the entire lifespan impacts identity and personal development.

Psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud's theory arguing that human behavior is driven by unconscious forces, hidden desires, and early childhood events.

Ego Identity

The conscious sense of self that individuals develop and constantly adapt through social interactions and daily experiences.

Ego Strength

The sense of mastery or competence a person feels when a stage of psychosocial development is handled well.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson's 1st psychosocial crisis (Infancy, 0–1 year), where consistent parent care develops trust, while unmet needs lead to mistrust.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Erikson's 2nd psychosocial crisis (Early Childhood, 2–3 years), where exercising free will builds confidence, whereas excessive discouragement leads to self-doubt.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson's 3rd psychosocial crisis (Play Age, 4–6 years), where encouraging independent activities develops confidence, while over-controlling causes sustained guilt.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Erikson's 4th psychosocial crisis (School Age, 7–12 years), where encouragement in creative/productive endeavors builds industry, while belittling causes feelings of incompetence.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Erikson's 5th psychosocial crisis (Adolescence, 13–18 years), where young people seek a sense of self and belonging to avoid long-term identity uncertainty.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erikson's 6th psychosocial crisis (Young Adulthood, Early 20s), where young adults commit to intimate relationships or face feelings of isolation.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Erikson's 7th psychosocial crisis (Adulthood, Late 20s–Late 50s), where contributing to society through parenting or work prevents self-absorbed stagnation.

Ego Identity vs. Despair

Erikson's 8th psychosocial crisis (Old Age, 60s onward), where reflecting on life contributions leads to acceptance/integrity or regret/despair.