1. UNIT 2: COGNITIVE DEVELOMENT CHAPTERS 6 & 7 Reading: Responsible for all the sections of both chapters

2. Chapter 6 Piaget’s theory Adolescent cognition – David Elkind Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory Beyond Piaget – Lifespan models of cognition

3. Jean PiagetLev Vygotsky

4. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development The origins of the theory The concept of a schema Mechanisms of change 1.assimilation 2.accommodation 3.equilibration

5. Sensorimotor Period: Birth to 2 yrs. 6 substages 1.Reflexes- 1 st mo. of life 2.Primary circular reactions- 1 – 4 mos. 3.Secondary circular reactions- 4 – 8 mos. 4.Coordination of secondary schemas- 8 – 12 mos. 5.Tertiary circular reactions- 12 – 18 mos. 6.Mental combinations- 18 – 24 mos.

6. Some important skills of the sensorimotor period Object permanence 1.No search 2.Search for partially hidden object 3.Search in first hiding place of object (Perseveration or A not B error) 4.Search only if the hiding of the object in a particular location is witnessed 5.Full object permanence

7. “I can’t see you. Therefore, you can’t see me!”

8. Causality – tested by Violations of Expectations method (see text) Anticipation – the bowling ball study

9. Pre-operational period: 2 – 7 yrs. The concept of operations The symbolic function substage- 2 – 4 yrs. 1.Symbolic thought 2.Egocentrism 3.Animism The intuitive thought substage- 4 – 7 yrs. 1.Centration3. Lack of 2.Lack of conversation reversibility

10. Concrete Operational Period- 7 – 11 yrs. The concept of Horizontal decalage Major developments of the stage: 1.Conservation 2.Classification 3.Seriation 4.Transivity

11. Formal Operational period emerges at 11 – 15 yrs. Abstract reasoning – thinking about concepts Idealistic reasoning – thinking about all the possibilities Hypothetical-deductive reasoning – thinking scientifically; applying the scientific method to problem solving

12. David Elkind – Adolescent Cognition Elkind’s discussion of adolescent thought processes focuses on the limited formal skills of the adolescent combined with even lesser developed emotional skills. Upon observation, this leads to an immaturity of thought that is largely unique to and very common during adolescence.

13. David Elkind

14. Immature aspects of adolescent thought processes Adolescent egocentrism 1.Imaginary audience 2.Personal fable Argumentativeness Indecisiveness Finding fault with authority Apparent hypocrisy

15. Piaget’s theory in perspective The field of Developmental Psychology owes to Piaget the current understanding of children as active and constructive thinkers who act upon and adapt to their worlds. However, Piaget’s theory has also been modified by contemporary cognitive psychologists in response to newer research findings.

16. Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development Vygotsky viewed children as social creatures who benefited from interacting with the others in their environments. Vygotsky proposed 2 concepts through which he explains the development of cognition. 1.The zone of proximal development (ZPD) 2.Scaffolding

17. Illustrations of the ZPD

18. The role of language Piaget vs. Vygotsky According to Piaget, children’s self-talk is a sign of their egocentrism and immaturity. Vygotsky views self-talk (private speech) as having a significant contribution to thinking and reasoning. He says that private speech helps children to plan, to guide, and to monitor their behaviors.

19. Post – formal thought? Piaget claims that formal operational reasoning is the highest level of reasoning that can be achieved. While adults may have more knowledge than adolescents said Piaget, the quality of their reasoning is similar. Contemporary research findings indicate that many adults do not use formal reasoning, especially in relation to everyday problems and situations they encounter.

20. Components of post-formal thought Reflective Relativistic Contextual Provisional Realistic / Pragmatic Subjective /Emotional