Lifespan Development - Cognitive Development

Question 1

What is the premise of Piaget’s constructivist theory?

Answer 1

Cognitive development results from biology + experience

Question 2

What is equilibration?

Answer 2

• Innate drive that motivates development to align thought with environment
• Adaptation: schema assimilation and/or schema accommodation

Part of Piaget’s constructivist theory.

Question 3

Describe the four stages of Piaget’s constructivist theory.

Answer 3

• Sensorimotor (0-2 yrs): object permanence, symbolic thought, make-believe, deferred imitation
• Preoperational (2-7 yrs): Representational thought increases. Can think about the past, absent objects, and engage in elaborate imaginative play.
• Concrete operational (7-12 yrs): Logical operations for concrete situations they can’t directly perceive (e.g., numbers).
  -Transductive reasoning (2 simultaneous events are causally related) and egocentrism limit cognition. Manifest in magical thinking and animism.
  -Conservation due to decentration and reversibility.
• Formal operational (12+ yrs): Abstract thinking, hypothetical deductive reasoning, and propositional thought.
  -Renewed egocentrism at the start (“personal fable” of different rules/limitations; “imaginary audience”).

This theory is criticized for its discounting of social influence.

Question 4

Describe the stages of reactions in Piaget’s sensorimotor stage.

Answer 4

• Reflexive rxns (0-1 mo)
• Primary circular rxns (1-4 mo): enjoyable actions (suck thumb, kicks)
• Secondary circular rxns (4-8 mo): actions involving objects; imitation
• Coordination of secondary circular rxns (8-12 mo): combines secondary rxns; imitates new actions
• Tertiary circular rxns (12-18 mo): experiments to discover outcomes and achieve goals
• Internalization of schemas (18-24 mo): mental representations; some mental problem-solving

Question 5

What is the premise of Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory?

Answer 5

• Learning precedes and facilitates cognitive development
• Learning is first interpersonal, then intrapersonal

Question 6

At what age does inner speech supplant private speech?

Answer 6

7

Question 7

What are the two zones of proximal development in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory?

Answer 7

• Scaffolding through the assistance of another
• Make-believe play to try new roles/actions

Question 8

What is the theory of mind, and at what age does it develop?

Answer 8

• Others’ behaviour is predicted by attributed mental representations (false-belief tasks, change-of-location tasks, imaginative role-play)
• 3-5

Question 9

What are the sex differences of math, verbal, visuospatial, aggression, self-esteem, and developmental vulnerability?

Answer 9

• Math: boys
• Verbal: girls
• Visual/spatial: boys
• Aggression: boys. Relational aggression unclear.
• Self esteem: high childhood -> drops teens -> increases -> declines late adulthood
  -Gender gaps higher in individualized cultures
  -Black self-esteem advantage
• Developmental vulnerability: boys

Question 10

How are short- and long-term memory impacted by aging?

Answer 10

• LT (secondary) memory most affected by age. Less effective encoding strategies.
  -Benefit from memory training strategies.
• ST (working) memory: decreased processing speed

Question 11

What are the causes of infantile amnesia?

Answer 11

• Incomplete hippocampal development and language needed to encode and store memory
• No stable sense of self

Memories before age 3-4 are blocked.

Question 12

What is the reminiscence bump?

Answer 12

Most recall from 10 yrs before testing, then between ages 15-25. Recall more + mems.

This phenomenon is attributed to identity formation.

Question 13

What is the synchrony effect?

Answer 13

Optimal time for cognitive tasks due to circadian rhythm. AM for old adults and PM/late for young adults.

Question 14

How does stereotype threat impact memory?

Answer 14

Memory performance affected if believe age = decline