Theories of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget concludes that cognitive development is related to age and maturity. He found that there are four main periods of cognitive development.

1. Sensorimotor (Birth to 2 years) Object permanence, imitation, some symbolic thinking (associations)


2. Peroperational (2 to 6/7 years) Think symbolically and logically, egocentric (focus on self), cannot master conservation problems


3. Concrete operational (6/7 to 11 years) Masters conservation problems, categorizes, cannot think abstractly


4. Formally operational (11 years upward) Think abstractly and hypothetically

Vocabulary:

Sensorimotor period: is characterized by reflexes, permanence in thinking, a rough idea of cause and effect, the ability to imitate, and limited symbolic thinking or making associations.

Schemata: (Singular schema) are mental representations or sets of rules that define a particular behaviour, categorize people, objects, and nature; or that help in understanding current and future experiences.

Assimilation: is the process by which new information about the world is incorporated into existing schemata.

Accomodation: is the process by which an existing schemata is changed by a new experience.

Sensorimotor Stage - 6 steps

1. Step 1 - Birth to 1 month: reflexes: sucking, grasping, staring, listening


2. Step 2 - 1 to four months: acquired adaptations, assimilation, and coordination of reflexes


3. Step 3 - 4 to 8 months: awaremess of things, responding to people and objects


4. Step 4 - 8 to 12 months: new adaptation and anticipation


5. Step 5 - 12 to 18 months: active experimentation


6. Step 6 - 18 to 24 months: mental combinations, considering before acting

Piaget vs. Vygotsky - Difference in theories of cognitive development

Piaget - Active learning, Egocentrism, Structure, Symbolic though

Vygotsky - Guided participation, Apprenticeship to thinking, Scaffolding, Proximal development