PSC 140 EXAM 2 (Part 3)

What do information-processing approaches to cognitive development examine?

They examine how nature and nurture work together to influence cognitive development.

How do information-processing approaches explain cognitive development?

They describe how cognitive change occurs over time.

What cognitive abilities are information-processing approaches concerned with?

The development of learning, memory, and problem-solving skills.

What is the main emphasis of the information processing theory of social problem solving?

It emphasizes the role of cognitive processes in social behavior.

From an information-processing perspective, how is aggression viewed?

A problem-solving strategy that some individuals use to achieve their goals or respond to social situations.

What is egocentrism in Piaget's theory?

The tendency of young children to have difficulty seeing situations from another person's perspective.

What cognitive shift occurs as children move from the preoperational stage to the concrete operational stage?

Children become capable of more logical and organized thinking about concrete events.

How does the nativist/core knowledge theory explain children's developing abilities?

It argues that some knowledge is innate and has developed through human evolution

According to core knowledge theory, is knowledge general or domain-specific?

Domain-specific (the mind has specialized, independent mechanisms for different types of info like numbers, language, or people).

According to the core knowledge perspective, when does understanding people begin to emerge?

Infancy

According to sociocultural theories, what is important for the development of a child's theory of mind?

Experience interacting with others

What specific sibling evidence supports the sociocultural view of theory of mind?

Children with older siblings tend to perform better on false-belief tasks, likely due to increased social interaction.

According to Piaget, how do number abilities develop?

They undergo qualitative changes as children progress through the stages of cognitive development.

What type of thinking is especially important for a true understanding of numbers, and why?

The concrete operational stage, because children develop conservation.

What is conservation in Piaget's theory?

The understanding that an amount or quantity remains the same despite changes in its appearance or arrangement

What does the nativist/core knowledge view propose about number abilities?

Humans are born with an innate core concept of number.

According to the nativist/core knowledge view,

1) How do children learn about numbers?

2) What does it suggest about the brain and number abilities?

1) They have special mechanisms for representing and learning about numbers.

2) There are specialized brain areas dedicated to processing numbers.

What is nonsymbolic numerical equality?

A newborn’s ability to recognize when two quantities are the same without using number symbols or counting.

According to the nativist/core knowledge view, can infants perform simple arithmetic?

Yes, infants are thought to be capable of simple addition and subtraction.

What is main idea of the empiricist/sociocultural view?

• Children's numerical understanding develops through general cognitive processes rather than from innate number knowledge.

• Cultural experiences

What is theory of mind?

A basic understanding of how the mind works and influences behavior.

At what age do children typically develop a theory of mind?

Ages of 2 and 5.

What specific types of knowledge are included in a child’s theory of mind?

• Perceptions

• Psychological states

• Actions

What are false-belief tasks used to assess?

They are used to assess a child's theory of mind and understanding that others can hold beliefs that are different from reality.

What do three-year-old children understand about beliefs and desires?

They have some understanding that beliefs and desires can influence behavior.

What skill is necessary for success on theory of mind tasks such as false-belief tasks?

A child must be able to know what other people are thinking and actively incorporate their perspective.

What is Spearman's single-trait theory of intelligence?

Intelligence consists of a single general factor called g (general intelligence).

What is general intelligence?

The ability that influences performance on all types of cognitive tasks.

What is Cattell's two-trait theory of intelligence?

Intelligence consists of two components: crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.

What are Thurstone’s seven primary mental abilities?

• Word fluency: produce words rapidly

• Verbal meaning: understand ideas and word meanings

• Reasoning: find rules or principles in data

• Spatial visualization: mentally manipulate 2D or 3D objects

• Numbering: rapid arithmetic computation

• Rote memory: recall pairs of items or lists

• Perceptual speed: rapidly spot visual details and similarities/differences

What is John Carroll’s three-stratum theory of intelligence?

A model of intelligence organized into three levels:

1. g (general intelligence): influences all cognitive activities beneath it

2. Broad abilities: Eight generalized abilities (fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, and general memory/learning).

3. Many specific cognitive processes: Spelling ability, reading speed, or visual memory

Which intelligence test is used to assess the development and intelligence of infants and toddlers?

The Bayley Scales of Infant Development

A widely used intelligence test for children that is divided into two primary sections: crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.

The WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children)

An intelligence test used to measure general cognitive ability (IQ) across different age groups.

The Stanford-Binet test

How are IQ scores distributed across a population?

Normally distributed (forming a bell curve where most people score near the average).

How stable is a child's IQ from early childhood to adolescence?

It is highly stable; a child's IQ at age 5 has a high correlation with their IQ at age 15.

Do IQ scores stay exactly the same over time?

No, IQ scores can show small average changes up or down over time.

What is IQ the best single predictor of?

School performance and educational attainment.

What other factors, besides IQ, influence school performance and educational attainment?

Motivation and socioeconomic background (SES).

How does school attendance affect IQ scores?

School attendance tends to improve IQ scores.

Do IQ scores remain identical across all demographic groups?

No, overall IQ scores differ among groups.

Is race an explanatory factor for the differences found in group IQ performance?

No, the score differential is instead indicative of the environment within which children are raised (e.g., access to resources, socioeconomics, and quality of education).

How can malnourishment and teratogens influence intelligence?

They can disrupt brain development, which can impact cognitive abilities

What environmental factors linked to poverty can affect intelligence?

• Reduced access to health services

• Poor parenting conditions

• Insufficient stimulation or emotional support

What relationship is observed between income inequality and IQ differences?

Greater income inequality is associated with larger differences in IQ.

Can intervention programs influence intelligence and academic achievement?

Yes

What is Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model?

A theory that explains child development as being influenced by multiple layers of environmental systems.

In the bioecological model, what is the microsystem?

The child’s immediate environment, such as family, peers, and school.

In the bioecological model, what is the mesosystem?

It consists of the connections or relationships between the child's microsystems (e.g., how a child's parents interact with their school teacher, or how home life impacts peer relationships).

In the bioecological model, what is the macrosystem?

The broader cultural context, including society's overarching values, shared beliefs, laws, economic systems, and customs.

In the bioecological model, what is the Chronosystem?

The dimension of time, including life transitions and historical or societal changes.

How is a child’s environment described in Bronfenbrenner’s model?

A series of nested structures.

What do the nested structures in a child’s environment represent?

Each structure represents a different level of influence on the child’s development.