Introduction:
Child development involves biological, psychological and emotional changes that take place in human beings from birth to the end of adolescence. Psychological changes comprise motor skills and other psycho-physiological processes such as cognitive development (Levine & Munsch 2010). Cognitive development refers to the construction of a thought process which consist not only reasoning, problem solving and decision making, but also it includes cerebral activities such as thinking and memory (Woolfolk-Hoy & Hoy 2004). From this process child will start to learn to analyze the condition and reasoning, which will advances throughout the childhood till adulthood. This essay will discuss the effect of multiple factors such as environmental and social variable on cognitive development. Essay will also explore the importance of understanding developmental psychology for nursing practice.
Environment and social variables have a high influence on cognitive development. Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky have done remarkable research and develop their own theories in understanding of cognitive development in children. Even though, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky have varied theory about cognitive development, both theories are equally significant to understand cognitive development of a child. According to Lev Vygotsky’s socio-culture theory of development, child’s cognitive development is greatly influenced by the social interaction and culture(Slavin 1996). Lev Vygotsky believed that it is inevitable for child’s cognitive development to be a part of a community. He suggested that a child observe and learn from cultural interaction. In addition, child develops a problem solving technique guided by other members of the community and uses it in case he faces it again (Slavin 1996). In contrast, According to Jean Piaget, children develop their own theory to