Chapter 2: Major Theories of Cognitive Development

What is Piaget’s Theory?

An assumtion that all children pass through four universal stages in a fixed order: Sensorimotor (0-2), Preoperational (2-7), Concrete Operational (7-11), and Formal Operational (11+)

What are the characteristics of the sensorimotor stage?

Birth- 2

Experiencing the world thru senses and action.

We develop object permanence and schemas.

What are schemas?

Mental categories where we store all related pieces of information.

Ex: A category of shapes, where we store all our knowledge of squares, triangles, and circles.

What are the characteristics of the preoperational stage?

2-7

We represent things with words and images & lack logical thinking.
We engage in pretend play
We’re egocentric
Language starts to develop

What are the characteristics of the concrete operational stage?

7-11

We can think logically about straightforward events or analogies

We can understand mathematical transformations (10+10 is 20, so 20-10 is 10) and the properties of conservation.

What are the characteristics of the formal operational stage?

11+

Can use abstract reasoning & logic

We can use moral reasoning

Not everyone reaches this stage- up to 25-60% of college students won’t!

How do reflexes differ from intentional behavior?

What are the for parts of the adaptation of a schema?

Assimilation, disequilibrium, accomodation, equilibrium

What does Piaget say about environmental adaptation?

We are not passive in our environment. Our brain is constantly organizing and creating new schemas so we are better adjusted to our world.

How does accommodation differ from assimilation?

Both are always present, BUT

One is when we process an event based on preexisting schema and one changes preexisting schemas (making a new schema or editing one) to absorb new, contradictory information.

What are the six substages of the sensorimotor stage?

Reflexes

Primary circular reactions

Secondary circular reactions

Coordination of secondary reactions

Tertiary circular reactions

Mental combinations

What happens in the Mental Combinations stage?

Solving problems (We want to play with a phone, but a banana is a good enough substitute)

What are tertiary circular reactions?

Repeating an action in different ways to see what changes take place>

What is the coordination of secondary reactions?

Having an “action plan”; reaching for things, walking to preferred people

What is object permanence?

Knowing that objects continue to exist even when it can’t be sensed.

What’s the difference between primary and secondary circular reactions?

Using our body to do something pleasurable repeatedly vs. making fun last

What serves as the basis for planning, remembering, and forming strategies?

What is centration?

The cognitive tendency of young children to focus on one aspect while disregarding others.

What is reversibility?

The understanding that actions can be reversed

What is decentration?

Thinking of multiple aspects of a situation at the same time.

What is tranitivity?

Understanding how different objects relate to each other (A sink has the drain, handles, and faucet. Together, they’re a sink).

What is conservation?

The knowledge that presentation doesn’t correlate with volume

What is symbolic function?

The ability to use something to represent an object that isn’t physically present.

What is egocentrism?

Thinking that doesn’t take in others’ viewpoints.

What is abstract thought?

The ability to think about concepts with no physical references, like love and freedom.

What is hypothetical reasoning?

The ability to think about “what if” scenarios and weight potential outcomes

What support is there for Piaget’s theory?

Descriptions are accurate

Studies show that kids DO learn by interacting with their environment

The theories gives a good framework

What criticism is there for Piaget’s theory

Development is continuous, not staged

Motor theories ignore sensation and perception

Object permanence and imitation occur earlier

Some development is culturally affected

What is reflective abstraction?

According to Vygotsky, how does a child’s thinking develop?

What are cultural tools?

What is the zone of proximal development?

What is scaffolding?

What was Vygotsky’s idea of internalizing socially shared activities?