Studied by 1 person
assimilation
introducing new information that aligns with an existing schema
accommodation
introducing new information that requires modification of an existing schema
sensorimotor
first stage of cognitive development; lasts from birth to about 2 years; exploring the connections between movement and sensory satisfaction
object permanence
the understanding that things still exist even when they cannot be sensed in the moment; develops around 8 months
separation anxiety
a sense of fear due to the temporary absence of a primary caregiver (result of a lack of object permenance)
preoperational
second stage of cognitive development; lasts about from 2 to 7 years; thinking is limited to egocentric and symbolic processes
animism
the belief that inanimate objects have emotions and other human qualities; typically present during the preoperational stage
egocentrism
the inability to understand another person’s experience; typically present during the preoperational stage
pretend play
a type of imaginative play that involves people or objects working as symbols for others (e.g. “playing house”); typically present during the preoperational stage
theory of mind
the understanding that other people have conciousness and experiences different from one’s own; develops near the end of the preoperational stage and through the concrete operational stage
concrete operational
third stage of cognitive development; lasts about from 7 to 11 years; develops the ability to think logically about physical objects and understand simple mathematical concepts
conservation
the understanding that the shape of an object does not always correspond to its mass, volume, or value; develops by the age of 8
formal operational
fourth stage of cognitive development; lasts from 12 years through adulthood; ability to think about abstract and hypothetical concepts, ability to think strategically about actions far in the future
