A2 - Intellecutal Development Across The Life Stages

Jean Piaget

Psychologist famous for his work on child development and his theory on cognitive development.

Schemas

Different categories of learning that we use to understand the world around us. Building blocks of knowledge.

Assimilation

Where we change new information to fit into a schema

Accommodation

Changing an existing schema, or building a new one, when information does not fit.

Example Of Assimilation

When a child learns the word dog, they might call all four-legged animals dogs even horses

Examples Of Accommodation

When an adult tells them that this is a dog and differentiate between a dog and all four-legged animals

Conservation

Understanding that quantity can stay the same when appearance changes

Object Permanence

Objects still exist when they leave the room

Object Representation

Drawing of themselves and families

Egocentric

Thinking about yourself and being unable to understand or consider other people’s viewpoints

What Are The Four Different Stages Of Cognitive Development

1. Sensorimotor

2. Preoperational

3. Concrete Operational

4. Formal Operational

What Is the Age Range For Sensorimotor Stage

0 - 2

What Is The Age Range For The Preoperational Stage

2 - 7

What Is The Age Range For The Concrete Operational

7 - 11

What Is The Age Range For The Formal Operational Stage

12+

What Are The Properties Of The Sensorimotor Stage

→ Infants learns through senses and movement
→ They repeat actions and explore cause-and-effect
→ Object permanence develops
→ Schemas are built from repeated experiences

What Are The Properties Of The Preoperational Stage

→ They learn through role play
→ Language and symbolic play expand rapidly
→ Egocentrism makes another person’s viewpoint harder to understand → They develop object representation

What Are The Properties Of The Concrete Operational Stage

→ Logical thinking improves when dealing with real or familiar objects / situations
→ Conservation is usually understood
→ Classification and ordering skills improve
→ Children are better able to consider more than one feature at a time

What Are The Properties Of The Formal Operational Stage

→ Abstract and hypothetical thinking becomes possible
→ Young people can consider “what if?” questions and competing explanations
→ Planning, systematic problem solving and moral reasoning can become more complex
→ Not every person uses formal reasoning equally in every context

What Are Some Strengths For Piaget’s Theory

→ Shows that children’s thinking changes qualitatively with age
→ Generated influential evidence about schemas, conservation and logical reasoning
→ Useful for planning age-appropriate learning and active discovery
→ Recognizes children as active learners rather than passive recipients

What Are Some Limitations For Piaget’s Theory

→ Stage ages are approximate and development may be less rigid
→ Some tasks may underestimate children if language / instructions are difficult
→ Social interaction, culture and teaching can influence performance
→ Different cognitive abilities may develop at different rates
→ Only 3 children used in the experiment so small sample that did not represent the population

John Bowlby

A child psychiatrist working in London

Which Life Stage Did Bowlby Work With

Infancy

What Is Bowlby’s Central Claim About How Attachment Begins

Infants are biologically pre-programmed to form attachments

Biologically Pre-Programmed

That the drive to form an attachments is built into the infant rather than learned from the environment

In Which Period Do Infants From Their Primary Attachment, According To Bowlby

In the early months - the 0-2 years of infancy

How Many Primary Attachments Does An Infant Form In This Early Period

One primary attachment, with the primary cargiver

Who Is The Primary Caregiver In Most Cases

The Mother

What Happens If The Primary Attachment Is Disrupted

It has negative impacts on development

What Happens If The Infant Has A Positive Relationship With The Primary Caregiver

It has positive impacts on development

Why Is The Primary Attachment Described As “Essential”

It acts as the model for all future attachments

What Is A Secure Base

A reliable caregiver who provides safety from which the child can explore the environment

Why Does A Secure Base Matter For Exploration

The child will only explore confidently when they know there is a safe person to return to

Proximity And Comfort In Bowlby

Infants seek closeness to familiar caregivers, especially when they are distressed

When is An infant Most Likely To Seek Proximity To The Caregiver

When they are distressed

Internal Working Model

Idea that early attachment experiences may shape a person’s expectations about trust and relationships

Why Is It Called An “Internal Working Model”

It is an inner template the child carries forward and uses to predict how relationships work

Continuity In Bowlby

Long, repeated separations or inconsistent care may create emotional difficulties

What Type Of Care Does Bowlby’s Theory Suggest Is Best For Development

Consistent, reliable care from a primary caregiver who responds to the infant’s needs

Criticism on Bowlby’s Emphasis On The Mother

That it may overstate the role of one caregiver. Most infants go on to form multiple attachments, and other caregivers can provide secure bases.

Ainsworth Strange Situation Classification

Based on children’s reactions when parted from a parent

What Are The Three Different Types Of Attachments

Secure, insecure / avoidant, insecure / resistant

Parenting Style In A Secure Attachment

In tune with the child and there emotions

Infants’ Behaviour In A Secure Parenting Style

1. Shows distress when primary caregiver leaves, but greets them when they return

2. Seeks comfort from caregiver when upset

3. Happy with strangers when caregiver is present

Parenting Style In An Insecure / Avoidant Attachment

Unavailable to the child / rejects the child

Infants’ Behaviour in An Insecure / Avoidant Attachment

1. Doesn’t show distress when primary caregiver leaves

2. Eager to explore the environment

3. Seeks comfort from strangers

Parenting Style In An Insecure / Resistant Attachment

Inconsistent in meeting the child’s needs

Infants’ Behaviour In An Insecure Resistant Attachment

1. Shows distress when primary caregiver leaves, but resists contact on their return

2. Shows anxiety and insecurity

What Is The Impact Of The Secure Attachment On Adult Attachments

1. Secure

2. Comfortable in relationships

3. Able to seek support from partner

What’s The Impact Of The Insecur / Avoidant Attachment On Adult Attachments

1. Dismissing

2. Greater sense of autonomy

3. Tend to cut themselves off emotionally from partner

What Is The Impact Of A Insecure / Resistant Attachment

1. Preoccupied

2. Fears rejection from partner

3. Strong desire to maintain closeness

Who Carried Out The Stages Of Attachment Research, And Where And When They Carried It Out

Schaffer and Emerson in Glasgow in 1964

Name The Four Different Age Attachments In Order

→ Birth - 3 months
→ 4 - 7 moths
→ 7 - 9 months
→ 10 months+

What Happens In the Birth - 3 Months Stage

The child responds to any caregiver

What Happens In The 4 - 7 Months Stage

The child shows preference for the primary caregiver (in most cases, the mother) but accepts care from others

What Happens In The 7 - 9 Months Stage

The child prefers the primary caregiver and seeks comfort from the primary caregiver. The child is unhappy when separate from the primary caregiver and shows fears when strangers / unfamiliar people

What Happens In The 10 Months+

Begins to develop attachments with others who responds to him / her. By 18 months, most infants would have formed multiple attachments

State The Age Range Of The Stage Called Indiscriminate Attachment

Birth - 3 months

Separate Anxiety

Distress shown when the infant is separated from the primary caregiver

When Does Separate Anxiety Occur

Around 7 months

Stranger Anxiety

Fear shown when the infant is with strangers, and sometimes familiar people

When Does Stranger Anxiety Occur

Appears shortly after separation anxiety. Around 8 - 9 months

What Are The 6 Reasons Why Attachment Might Not Go Smoothly

1. Prematurity

2. Post-natal-depression (PND)

3. Separation

4. Foster care / adoption

5. Emotional unavailability

6. Disability

Reason For Prematurity

If a prematurity baby is in an incubator, they cannot be picked up and help. This can affect the attachment process

Reason For PND

Some mothers are depressed after birth, but PND last longer and may affect a mother’s ability to bond with her baby

Reason For Separation

Separation of parents from their baby, e.g. due to illness, bereavement or the parents divorcing, can affect attachment. This can impact on a baby’s sense of identity

Reason For Foster Care / Adoption

‘Looked after children’, children within the care system, may experience inconsistency of caregivers, which can affect attachments and their sense of identity

Reason For Emotional Unavailability

May be due to parents having problems with alcohol or drug abuse, illness or generally struggling with their role

Reason For Disability

Some parents find it harder to attach to a baby with a disability, and they struggle with their feelings. Some babies with disabilities may experience difficulty forming attachments