theories of cognitive development 1 + 2

What is the purpose of understanding theories of cognitive development?

To provide a framework for understanding important phenomena and lead to a better understanding of children.

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

Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational.

What key processes are involved in Piaget’s stages of cognitive development?

Assimilation, Accommodation, and Equilibration.

What is assimilation in Piaget's theory?

Incorporating new information into existing concepts.

Define accommodation as per Piaget’s theory.

Improving current understanding based on new information.

What does equilibration refer to in cognitive development?

The balance between assimilation and accommodation.

What is qualitative change in Piaget’s theory?

Children in different stages exhibit qualitatively different types of thinking.

What is egocentrism in the context of the Preoperational Stage?

Perceiving the world solely from one’s own point of view.

What is the conservation concept related to cognitive development?

Understanding that changing the appearance of objects does not change their properties.

What does the Information-Processing theory focus on?

The structure of cognitive systems and the mental activities used to deploy attention and memory.

How do children overcome processing limitations according to Information-Processing theories?

By expanding the amount of information processed at a time, increasing processing speeds, and acquiring new strategies.

What are executive functions in cognitive development?

Controls of cognition that include inhibiting actions and enhancing working memory.

What role does rehearsal play in memory development?

It is the process of repeating information multiple times to aid memory.

What does the Overlapping Waves Theory emphasize in cognitive development?

The variability of children’s thinking and the adaptive use of new strategies.

What is the significance of deferred imitation in the Sensorimotor Stage?

It reflects the achievement of representational thought.

What do core knowledge theorists, such as Elizabeth Spelke, believe about children?

They believe children enter the world with innate knowledge in domains of evolutionary importance.

What is the role of 'guided participation' in children's development according to sociocultural theories?

It emphasizes that more competent individuals provide a framework for learning, helping children gain skills.

According to Vygotsky, what are the three phases in the growth of internalized speech?

1. Other people's statements control children's behavior. 2. Children control their behavior with private speech. 3. Behavior is controlled by internalized private speech.

What theory posits that children build understanding by combining innate knowledge with experiences?

Constructivism.

What significant mechanism does Chomsky propose for language acquisition?

The Language Acquisition Device.

In dynamic-systems theories, how is development depicted?

As a process of constant change influenced by various factors including current situations and past experiences.

What does the 'A-not-B error' illustrate in the context of dynamic systems theory?

It shows how attention, memory, and actions can influence behavior in a context-specific manner.

What are the characteristics of naïve theories as proposed in constructivism?

1. Identification of fundamental units for categorizing objects and events. 2. Explanation of phenomena via fundamental principles. 3. Explanation of events in terms of unobservable causes.

How do sociocultural theories view the role of culture in children's development?

They view children as products of their culture, where cultural content shapes thinking and learning.

What does Piaget propose about children's approach to knowledge compared to Vygotsky?

Piaget asserts that children seek knowledge independently while Vygotsky emphasizes knowledge gained through social interactions.