Cognitive Development Introduction and Piagetian Theory Flashcards
(50 cards)
What are the 3 categories of cognitive development theories?
Empiricist theories
Rationalist theories
Socio-historic theories
How do empiricist theories view the development of knowledge?
the accumulation of writing on a blank slate - we are shaped by the knowledge we gain along the way
How do rationalist theories view the development of knowledge?
the enfolding of a masterplan - we are shaped by our ability to rationalize and think logically
How do socio-historic theories view the development of knowledge?
apprenticeship in a culture
Through what types of learning does a child’s mind develop - according to the Empiricist theories?
Perceptual learning - increasing ability to distinguish between different classes of empirical stimuli (e.g., sounds, smells, textures)
Cognitive learning - increasing ability to make associations between the classes of percepts
Transfer of learning - increasing ability to apply the empirical learning to new contexts
What is information processing?
An approach that tries to model what goes on inside the mind through the computer metaphor
It focuses on input-output - a computer builds its knowledge through the accumulation of input which it then works on
What is the innate reasoning framework?
The rationalist approach that states:
the child’s mind develops through an innate order-imposing mental structure which also develops with age
Knowledge/data is organized according to the internal framework
What is a language acquisition device (LAD)?
Who proposed it?
What kind of approach is it?
an innate mental framework for processing language - proposed by Chomsky - a nativist approach
What does the LAD go against?
Goes against Skinner’s argument that language is acquired through experience
According to socio-historic theories, through what does the child’s mind develop?
Social interaction with experts of the culture
Impact of institutions on child’s framework
Learning of mental tools for processing knowledge
Who was the major contributor to the rationalist approach?
Jean Piaget
Who was the major contributor to the socio-historic approach?
Lev Vygotsky
Who was the major contributor to the empiricist approach?
Robbie Case
What does cognition involve?
mental processes such as perceiving, remembering, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving
What are children’s drawings used for?
a measure of intelligence or creativity
projections of inner feelings about themselves and others
How do drawing skills progress from 0-4 months?
0-4 months - learn to track objects with their eyes and movement of arms
4 months - coordinate arm movement with tracking of objects - hence reaching out and grasping objects
How do drawing skills progress from 4-8 months?
learn to manipulate objects and bring them to their mouths
feeling and noticing color, brightness, smell, taste etc.
How do drawing skills progress from 8-12 months?
able to focus on the effect of manipulation on a 2nd object
e.g., making marks on a piece of paper with a crayon
How do drawing skills progress from 12-20 months?
learn to focus on the marks they make on the paper - produce a scribble
What are the goals of drawing skills through the years?
1-2 years - Learn to scribble
2-5 years - Representation of an object
5-10 years - Draw a scene
10-15 years - Coordinate scenes
How does the ability to represent an object through drawing develop through 2-5 years?
2-3 years - learn to form different patterns e.g., circles, lines
3-5 years - learn to combine patterns to make a representation e.g., a bike, the sun
How does the ability to draw a scene develop through 5-10 years?
5-6 years - draw the ground or sky in addition to people OR a differentiated representation of a person
7-10 years - draw objects in a transparent or parallel fashion
What is a limitation children between 5-10 years face when drawing?
are not able to focus on 3D (depth)
What does the integration of 2 scenes involve?
hierarchal integration of the ability to represent perspective
