Cognitive Development and Theories: Piaget, Vygotsky, and Neurocognitive Disorders

Piaget's Theory

Cognitive development is both continuous and discontinuous; children go through stages of cognitive development.

Continuity

Gradual changes in behaviors and thought throughout stages.

Discontinuity

Four distinct phases that describe distinct shifts in behaviors and thought processes.

Schemas

Thinking develops through schemas.

Assimilation

Taking in new information, but not changing the schema.

Accommodation

Taking in new information and changing the schema to incorporate the new information.

Sensorimotor Stage

Lasts from birth to about 2 years of age; cognitive development occurs as babies explore the world using their senses and actions.

Object Permanence

The understanding that items continue to exist even when not sensed directly.

Separation Anxiety

The normal distress that a young child experiences when away from the caregiver to whom they are attached.

Pre-operational Stage

Children develop language, symbolic thinking, engage in pretend play, but struggle with logic and viewpoints of others.

Symbolic Thought

Using language and symbols to express ideas and understand the world.

Animism

Error in thinking when children assign lifelike traits to nonliving objects.

Egocentrism

Children think that others understand their pretend game without explaining.

Theory of Mind

The ability to understand that others have different beliefs, wishes, emotions, and perceptions that influence their behavior.

False Belief Test

Children are shown a story with Sally and Anne and have to guess which box the marble is in.

Concrete Operational Stage

Children develop enhanced logical thinking, understand tangible events, and demonstrate improved problem-solving skills.

Decentration

Can focus on multiple aspects of a problem.

Formal Operational Stage

Abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and metacognition.

Metacognition

Involves examining one's mental processes.

Vygotsky's Social Cognitive Theory

Children are social learners and cognitive growth comes from social interaction and cultural experiences.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Refers to what the learner can do with help from a more knowledgeable other.

Scaffolding

The process in which the more knowledgeable other provides support or mentorship to a learner.

Crystalized Intelligence

The aspect of general intelligence consisting of knowledge, facts, information, and verbal skills acquired throughout life.

Fluid Intelligence

The aspect of general intelligence consisting of the capacity to reason quickly and abstractly.

Neurocognitive Disorders

A category of disorders that involve problems with mental functioning due to various causes.

Dementia

An umbrella term for any disease that causes cognitive/functional decline due to various factors affecting brain structure.

Major Neurocognitive Disorder

Significantly impacts functioning and independence.

Mild Neurocognitive Disorder

Observable cognitive decline, but doesn't impact daily life.