Introduction to Piaget and Cognitive Development in Infancy

cognitive development

development of thinking, reasoning, and problem solving skills

Piaget's Theory

the most comprehensive theory of cognitive development, although it can be criticized

nature, nurture

Piaget believed the source of development is the interaction between ___________ and __________

mismatches

Piaget believed ______________ between current knowledge and new information (disequilibrium) drive developmental change

stages

Piaget believed intellect is structured and development occurs in __________

schema

an understanding of a concept

cognitive adaptation

building schemas (concepts/structures for understanding the world) based on direct interactions with the environment

assimilation, accommodation

2 processes of cognitive adaptation

assimilation

process of cognitive adaptation: child uses existing schema to interpret new information/new experience

accommodation

process of cognitive adaptation: child changes schema to account for the new information/new experiences

assimilation

assimilation or accommodation?: schema for "dog" is a four-legged animal; child sees a cow and says "dog"

accommodation

assimilation or accommodation?: schema for "dog" is a small four-legged animal in house, and schema for "cow" is a large four-legged animal on farm

organization

grouping of schemas into higher order structures

4

number of stages of Piaget's Theory of cognitive development (although we'll only be focusing on the first)

sensorimotor

stage of Piaget's Theory of cognitive development that occurs from birth to age 2 when infants construct an understanding of the world using their senses and motor behaviors (seeing, hearing, touching, grasping, throwing, etc.)

reflex activity

substage 1 of the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

primary circular reactions

substage 2 of the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

secondary circular reactions

substage 3 of the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

coordination of secondary schemes

substage 4 of the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

tertiary circular reactions

substage 5 of the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

representation/invention of new means through mental combinations

substage 6 of the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

reflex activity (substage 1)

substage of the sensorimotor stage that occurs from 0-1 months

reflex activity (substage 1)

substage of the sensorimotor stage where infants use sensory and reflex abilities they are born with (looking, listening, sucking); no real schemas

primary circular reactions (substage 2)

substage of the sensorimotor stage that occurs from 1-4 months

primary circular reactions (substage 2)

substage of the sensorimotor stage where infants discover (by chance) that they can do something interesting/pleasurable to their own bodies and then they repeat (sucking toe, rubbing face, raspberries, etc.)

secondary circular reactions (substage 3)

substage of the sensorimotor stage that occurs from 4-8 months

secondary circular reactions (substage 3)

substage of the sensorimotor stage where infants discover (by chance) that they can do something interesting/pleasurable to an external object and then repeat; beginning to understand cause/effect; no object permanence (don't search for hidden objects); (shake arm and rattle makes sound, etc.)

object permanence

understanding that hidden objects still exist

coordination of secondary schemes (substage 4)

substage of the sensorimotor stage that occurs from 8-12 months

coordination of secondary schemes (substage 4)

substage of the sensorimotor stage where infants intentionally combine schemes to solve simple problems (grasp and slide tissue box to reach bottle behind it, etc.); true means-end behavior (I can intentionally cause something to occur); have object permanence (search for hidden object), but make the A not B error

A not B error

tendency to search for a hidden object where they previously found it even after they have seen it moved to a new location

tertiary circular reactions (substage 5)

substage of the sensorimotor stage that occurs from 12-18 months

tertiary circular reactions (substage 5)

substage of the sensorimotor stage that is also called "experimentation in order to see"; experiment with objects to determine their properties and effects; pursuit of novelty and curiosity (What can I do with this ball?); trial and error problem solving; have object permanence and solve A not B error

representation/invention of new means through mental combinations (substage 6)

substage of the sensorimotor stage that occurs from 18-24 months

representation/invention of new means through mental combinations (substage 6)

substage of the sensorimotor stage where infants are able to mentally represent objects/actions; beginning of mental (internal) problem solving; deferred imitation- imitate an action they had previously seen; symbolic/pretend play- one thing stands for another

underestimated

critics of Piaget believe he may have ______________ some of infants' cognitive abilities (ex: object permanence may start as young as 3 months)