Lecture 12 - Cognitive Development: Infant Competencies Flashcards

1
Q

In the living child cognitive, emotional, physical and social development occur together and are interlinked.
True or false?

A

True.

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2
Q

Information Processing Theory puts a large emphasis on memory and attention as the core drivers of development - as our ability to pay attention and retain/make memories increases our ability to perform more and more complex tasks increases. Based on this idea Information Processing theories of cognitive development see this development as continuous.

True or false?

A

True.

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3
Q

What is infancy?

A

Infancy is seen as 0-1 years of age

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4
Q

Who said that infants are a “buzzing, blooming, confusion”?

A

William James in 1890

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5
Q

Are infants born with a “starter kit” of reflexes, sensorimotor skills and preferences?

A

Yes.

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6
Q

What is the rooting reflex?

A

The turning of a baby’s head toward pressure, such as a finger, on the cheek. This reflex is thought to be used for breast feeding.

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7
Q

What is the grasping reflex?

A

The grasping reflex refers to the ability and propensity of the infant to grasp onto objects, fingers etc. It is so strong baby can hold its own weight in first few weeks.

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8
Q

What are some of the reflexes that infants are born with?

Hint: we looked at 6

A
  1. Grasping
  2. Rooting
  3. Sucking and swallowing (when mouth comes in contact with the nipple)
  4. Moro reflex (happens with infant is scared - outstretched arms and arching of back)
  5. Crawling reflex
  6. Stepping reflex
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9
Q

What defines a reflex?

A

An involuntary automatic reaction to a particular, specific stimulus.

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10
Q

Do the reflexes that an infant is born with persist throughout the life span or do they drop off?
Which reflexes persist and which drop off?

A

Some reflexes persist, such as sneezing. Some drop off, such as the rooting and grasping reflex that drop off at around 3 months.

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11
Q

Why do we study infant reflexes?

A

Infant reflexes give a quick indication of neurological status. If they are not present or persist beyond when they normally drop off this can be an indication that there is something happening neurologically that is atypical.

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12
Q

What is Piaget’s theory of cognitive development?

A

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development sees cognitive development occurring in invariant discontinuous stages. Sees the child as constructing their knowledge from interacting with the world around them.

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13
Q

What is Information Processing Theory of Cognitive Development?

A

Information Processing Theory of Cognitive Development sees the driving force of cognitive development as the increasing capacity of a child’s ability to pay attention and their memory. As opposed to WHAT the child learns it is the changes to their cognitive abilities, i.e. attention and memory, that drive their development.

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14
Q

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

A
  1. Sensorimotor
  2. Preoperational
  3. Concrete Operational
  4. Formal Operational
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15
Q

Vygotsky’s Theory of Social/Cognitive Development is a theory of HOW children learn, not a theory of WHAT children know.

True or false?

A

True.
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development on the other hand is more a theory of WHAT children know at different stages.

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16
Q

In regards to Piaget’s Theory was does semiotic function mean?

A

The semiotic function is the ability to represent an object/thing that is not present with another object/thing and this skill develops in the preoperational stage.

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17
Q

By what age does visual acuity reach the same levels for infants as adults?

A

8 months.

18
Q

Do infants prefer to look at moving or static objects?

A

Infants prefer to track moving objects.

19
Q

Do infants preferentially look at faces over other objects and look at smiling faces over not smiling faces?

A

Yes.

20
Q

Do infants preferentially look at biological movement over mechanical movement?

A

Yes.

21
Q

What is one of the impacts of infants preferentially looking at faces and biological movement?

A

The fact that infants look at faces and biological movement more than other objects/movement means that they are more likely to develop skills around recognising facial expressions, non-verbal cues etc.

22
Q

Children/individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder do not show a preference for faces during infancy.
What influence may this have on the child’s social awareness?

A

Because they do not have the same preference to look at faces it means that they may not develop the same skills as other children in regards to recognising facial and non-verbal cues.

23
Q

Is facial preference seen prenatally?

A

Yes.

24
Q

Are infants receptive to affectionate touch?

A

Yes.

25
Q

How does caregiver touch (especially affectionate touch) influence infant and child development?

A

Affectionate touch from the caregiver has both physiological and psychosocial benefits for the infant in terms of development.
Affectionate touch has been shown to promote SOMATOSENSORY TUNING, AUTONOMIC REGULATION (stress and arousal responses), IMMUNE FUNCTION, AFILITATIVE BONDING, SOCIAL COGNITION.

26
Q

What behaviour by the caregiver can promote somatosensory tuning, autonomic regulation, immune function, afiliative bonding, and social cognition?

A

Affectionate touch from the caregiver during infancy.

27
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant lift their head up?

A

2 months

28
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant roll over?

A

2.5 months

29
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant sit up with support (i.e propped up)?

A

3 months

30
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant sit up without support?

A

6 months

31
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant stand holding onto a support?

A

6.5 months

32
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant “cruise”, i.e. walk whilst holding onto something/some support?

A

9 months

33
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant stand unsupported momentarily?

A

10 months

34
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant stand without support?

A

11 months

35
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant walk alone?

A

12 months

36
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can an infant walk backwards?

A

14 months

37
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can a child walk up and down stairs?

A

17 months

38
Q

Motor Milestones:
At what age can a child kick a ball, carry objects etc?

A

20 months

39
Q

What is important to remember when considering motor milestones?

A

Motor milestones can give an indication of how development is going for infants. However, it should be noted that there is a range in terms of age when these milestones are typically reach.
Most importantly, however, it should be noted that the motor milestones used in healthcare, psychology etc are based on white, middle class infants from the US. And therefore these milestones are specific for that demographic and there definitely is variation among cultures. The milestones are not solely based on biology, rather they are largely influenced by their culture and environment.

40
Q

What are the 6 substages of Piaget’s sensorimotor stage?

A
  1. Reflex Acts
  2. Primary Circular Reactions
  3. Secondary Circular Reactions
  4. Co-ordinating Secondary Schemes/circular reactions
  5. Tertiary Circular Reactions
  6. Symbolic Thought - crucial for OBJECT PERMANENCE
41
Q

According to Piaget what is Egocentric Speech?

A

Egocentric speech is the speech children between the ages of 2 and 7 engage in when they are playing with themselves or on their own. It is not a form of social engagement, instead being solely directed at the child themselves and their inner experience - hence the same egocentric speech.