Cognitive Development in PSYC1000

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to cognitive development, including definitions and examples as outlined in the PSYC1000 lecture notes.

Cognition

Activity of knowing and the mental processes used to acquire knowledge and solve problems.

Cognitive Development

Changes that occur in mental skills and abilities over the course of life.

Schema

Mental structures or concepts that help people organize and interpret information and experiences.

Assimilation

The process of incorporating new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation

The process of modifying existing schemas to include new information.

Organization

The process of rearranging and linking schemas into more complex systems of knowledge.

Equilibrium

A balanced mental state where existing schemas successfully explain experiences.

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

A theory by Jean Piaget explaining how children actively construct knowledge through interaction with their environment.

Sensorimotor Stage

The first stage of Piaget’s theory (birth–2 years) where infants learn through sensory experiences and physical actions.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard.

A-not-B Error

A mistake made by infants who repeatedly search for an object in its original hiding place even after seeing it moved.

Preoperational Stage

The second stage of Piaget’s theory (2–7 years) when children begin using symbols, language, and imagination but still lack logical thinking.

Symbolic Function

The ability to use symbols (such as words or images) to represent objects or experiences.

Pretend Play

A type of play where children use imagination to create scenarios or roles.

Egocentrism

The tendency for young children to view the world only from their own perspective.