Cognitive Development Theories

These flashcards cover key concepts of Cognitive Development Theories including Piaget's stages, Vygotsky's social learning theory, and other relevant theories discussed in the lecture.

What is the primary focus of cognitive theories in child development?

Cognitive theories focus on how children think, learn, and understand the world around them, emphasizing their active role in learning.

What are the four stages of Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory?

1. Sensorimotor stage (0-2 years) 2. Preoperational stage (2-7 years) 3. Concrete operational stage (7-11 years) 4. Formal operational stage (12 years and up).

What characterizes the Sensorimotor Stage of cognitive development?

Learning through senses and actions; exploring the world by touching, looking, tasting, and moving; developing object permanence.

At what age does the Preoperational Stage occur and what are its key characteristics?

The Preoperational Stage occurs between 2 to 7 years; characterized by symbolic thinking, imaginative play, egocentrism, and difficulty with logic and conservation.

What is the key feature of the Concrete Operational Stage?

Logical thinking about concrete events and tangible situations, understanding conservation.

Describe the focus of Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory.

Learning is social and cultural, occurring through interaction with more knowledgeable others (MKO) and supported by scaffolding.

What do the Zones of Proximal Development (ZPD) refer to in Vygotsky’s theory?

The zone of achieved development is what a child can complete independently, while the zone of proximal development is what can be accomplished with guidance.

How does the Information Processing Theory compare the mind to a computer?

It emphasizes the process of how humans take in, store, and use information, functioning as input → process → output.

What was Watson’s Behaviorism Theory focused on?

Observable behavior rather than internal mental states, emphasizing the role of environmental factors in behavior and development.

What does Skinner's Operant Conditioning entail?

Learning occurs through the consequences of behavior and in the presence of specific stimuli.

In Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, how do people learn behaviors?

People learn behaviors by observing others and modeling their actions.

What is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory about?

Human development is shaped by different layers of environmental systems, such as microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem.