Child Development Flashcards

Flashcards on Child Development based on lecture notes.

Mechanistic Theories

Theoretical perspective where change is stimulated by the environment (i.e., shaping).

Organismic Theories

Theoretical perspective where psychological structures inside the child influence development.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate on whether behavior is inherited or learned.

Jean Piaget

Swiss developmental psychologist known for his theory of cognitive development.

Cognition

A major focus of Jean Piaget's research.

Schema

Internal representation of a specific physical or mental action.

Operation

Higher order mental structure acquired in middle childhood; knowledge of complex rules.

Adaptation

The adaptation of cognitive structures to meet environmental demands.

Assimilation

Understanding a new object or idea in terms of concepts or actions already possessed.

Accommodation

Modifying existing schemata or developing new schemata to deal with new concepts or experiences.

Equilibrium

State of balance a child is in before the acquisition of new knowledge.

Sensorimotor Stage

Stage of cognitive development (approx. 0-2 years) focused on senses and motor actions.

Preoperational Stage

Stage of cognitive development (approx. 2-7 years) characterized by symbolic thought but also egocentrism

Concrete Operations Stage

Stage of cognitive development (approx. 7-11 years) where children acquire reversible thinking

Operations

Ability to figure things out in their head.

Formal Operations Stage

Stage of cognitive development (approx. 11 years onwards) with abstract reasoning.

Lev Vygotsky

Russian psychologist who developed the Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development.

Sociocultural Theory

Social influences on developing thought processes.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Area between the child’s actual developmental level and the potential developmental level when helped by others.

Scaffolding

A framework or support system provided by an ‘expert’.