...Does theory of mind develop gradually or is there a radical conceptual shift between the ages of 3 and 4 years? Explain how research evidence supports your views. From an evolutionary perspective, the complex and highly functional psychological abilities can be seen as a product of a continuous adaptation process. Well-developed mental skills form the basis of humans complex and advanced mental functioning, both interpersonal and intrapsychologically. One of these advanced mental abilities is the capability to attribute emotions, intentions and knowledge within yourself and others (Flavell, 2004). This is a form of social cognition or a mental understanding that within developmental psychology is termed “Theory of Mind”. It is often said that children start to develop a “Theory of Mind” at the age between 3 to 5 years (Premack & Woodruff, 1978), but scientists have always had different views and opinions about when and how Theory of Mind develops. Some researchers believe that this development happens gradually, while others believe there is a conceptual shift between the ages of 3 and 4. I will in this essay evaluate and discuss the different viewpoints with the support of previous research evidence. Within the theory of mind approach, the ability to attribute mental states to others is considered evidence for children having developed a psychological understanding of the mind as representational – that is, they have realised that what is in the mind is only a representation...
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...PRESCHOOL Just look at this→think of examples for all of them Chapter 7: Physical & Cognitive Development • Growth & ability of the body Right/ left handedness emerges early Bone ossification Gross motor skills • Brain lateralization—certain cognitive functions are located more in 1 hemisphere of brain than other→ become more pronounced during preschool years o Right vs. Left hemisphere specialization • Left hemisphere- speaking, reading, thinking & reasoning • Right Hemisphere- Spatial relationships, pattern recognition & emotional expression (global processing) o What are examples of skills associated with the right and left hemisphere? o Some specialization of each hemisphere, BUT each can perform most tasks of the other. EX: right hemisphere does some language processing and does important role in language comprehension • Piaget’s preoperational stage of cognitive development (early childhood: 2—6) o Children at this time increase in use of symbolic thinking, mental reasoning, use of concepts.. Representational thought • EX: seeing moms car keys(symbol) prompts u to ask “are we going to the store?” • Primarily defined by limitations. Characterized by centration o Aren’t capable of operations→ organized/formal mental process that develops in school-aged children o Confuses own POV w/ others & cant consider multiple characteristics of stuff o Period of centration- concentrating on 1 limited aspect of stimulus & ignoring other stimulus. (EX: a cat w/ dog...
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...To what extent is Theory of Mind innate? Critically discuss with reference to genetic, social and cultural evidence. Theory of mind refers to an individual’s ability to understand the mental states of others (Baron-Cohen, 1989b). According to Buttelmann et al. (2008) over the years; psychological practice has seen an increase in research, debating whether theory of mind is innate. This apparent increase stems from controversial standard false-belief tasks and its influence on a person’s ability to have an operative theory of mind (Chandler, Fritz & Hala 1989). The connotations of these standard false-belief tasks act as an indicator for specific age boundaries, in which children are meant to start attributing mental states to others, through their understanding of false belief (Perner and Ruffman, 2005; Fodor, 1992; Mitchell,1996). The implications of these standard false-belief tasks will steer this discussion to focus on the extent at which theory of mind can be considered as innate with reference to genetic, social and cultural evidence. According to Whiten, (1993 pg. 3) “a theory of mind remains one of the quintessential abilities that makes us human” .Yet prior to Baron-Cohen’s (1989a) study, the traditional view held by most child developmental psychologists, (Piaget, 1983) was based on the idea that, any understanding of what goes on in another person’s mind has to be a calculated and difficult thing (Appleton and Reddy, 1996). Hence, in order to work...
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...Children’s Theoretical Perspective on the Theory of Mind and False Beliefs on Social Cognition Questions seeking an answer to a missing piece, puzzled with things unknown, and bothering twisted thoughts. These are primordial stuff experienced by an individual leading to curiosity. Curiosity which makes every person motivated in finding an answers. The fact that curiosity about a matter will always be the starting point of a new development. One of the best examples is the children. As we can see, children are the most determine explorer because for them everything is a mystery. To discover simple unfamiliar objects, to meliorate their knowledge and to understand their environment are their major goals which we can identify as mediocre. The genuine truth about children is their capacity to understand someone even though they have minimal knowledge on how mental life processes goes through. They can easily figure it out when someone is motivated in acquiring their wants or goals. As a matter of fact, sometimes they can also distinguish what are the positive and negative emotions. On the other hand, they can also practice their false beliefs where they can hardly define between what is real and what is true. Furthermore, as we adults, we are more matured enough in thinking and behaving in all matter. We have the responsibility to modify what we perceive and to justify and stand on what we believe is right and wrong. Nevertheless, people talk too much; people think...
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...Foundations of Cognitive Theory Elizabeth Caldwell Excelsior College Abstract Cognitive-learning theories explore the complexity of the mind from the perspective of how the mind processes information. The paper will discuss the history of cognitive-learning theories and how they shaped the way one perceives, organizes, stores, and retrieves information. The main focus will be on Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, however, it will include theorists such as Wilhelm Wundt, William James, Edward Tolman and Frederic Bartlett. It will start off with the definition of cognitive theory and move on to the history of psychological theorists, ending with the conclusion. Keywords: Defining Cognitive Theory Cognitive theory is an approach to psychology that attempts to explain human behavior by understanding the thought processes (Fritscher, 2014). The main facet of cognitive theory involves the communications between mental components and the information that is processed through this intricate system. As individuals learn, they vigorously generate cognitive arraignments which determine their perceptions of environment and self. Concepts of Cognitive Theorists Cognitive theorists think that learning consists of the incorporation of events into an operating storage system contained within the organizational structures called schemata. This concept of schemata was introduced by Frederic C. Bartlett in the early 1930’s. We will discuss more about Frederic C. Bartlett...
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...Piaget and Vygostsky’s cognitive developmental theories in a practical classroom environment Piaget and Vygotsky have antonymous beliefs when dealing with the concepts of cognitive development. Vygotsky believes in development through social behaviour whilst Piaget believes in individuals acquiring knowledge on their own. Both however, believe that the interaction between development and learning hold significant implications for a child’s growth. This essay discusses some of the philosophical beliefs of each theorist in regards to a scenario based in the classroom of a year five teacher named Ann. Ann reinforces classroom lessons through the outdoor environment, exemplifying Piaget’s theories of constructivist based learning as well as teaching methods that cater to the concrete operational stage of cognitive development. Ann also displays Vygotsky’s cognitive theory involving the zone of proximal development and peer to peer or teacher-peer scaffolding within a group environment. The essay will examine Ann’s teaching methods and how they relate to these cognitive developmental theories. Ann’s socially-constructive pedagogical approach as described by Howell (2012) will help children build their knowledge base through collaborative learning as well as independent work, known as scaffolding. Ann would apply the technique of scaffolding by providing assistance and offering feedback relating to new information (Woolfolk, 2004). Vygotsky (1978) put forward a theory in which one only...
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...“Cognitive Development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving and decision making from childhood through adolescense to adulthood.” (Answer.com) According to Jean Piaget, cognitive development progresses gradually through a series of stages. “Jean Piaget was born in 1896 in Menchates, Switzerland. Piaget begain the study on child behaviour through his own kids.” (Newkrik, E) He studied his kids intellectual development from infancy. While conducting his studies on his kids, Piaget developed a theory which was sub divided into four stages of intellectual development. Piaget’s intellectual development theory was divided into four stages and was also known as stage theory. The first stage is Senserimotor stage which starts from the birth of the child till age two. This stage is also named as infancy. According to Piaget, infant “presume that the world profoundly lacks permanence.” (Mitchell P, Ziegler F 2007) Piaget subdivided the stage of infancy into six further stages. In a brief this stage says that the child depends on seeing, feeling, sucking and they learn how to feel though their environment. In this stage it was proven that the infact has the ability to coordinate separate activites. For instance, the coordination between looking and reaching. Object permanence was one of the important concepts developed during this stage. “Object permanence is the awareness that an object continues to exist even when it is not in view.” (In a Nutshell)...
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...Psychologists' Compare And Contrast – Jean Piaget & Sigmund Freud Similarities and differences Jean Piaget was a philosopher and developmental Swiss psychologist who is widely known for the epistemology studies relating children. Piaget’s theory of epistemology and cognitive development are both referred to as genetic epistemology. Jean Piaget’s specific concern was on cognitive or intellectual development of a child and manner in which minds progress and process knowledge. Piaget’s fundamental thesis was based on the fact that children’s first grow theories of self-centric about the environment they are living in or about persons and objects in that environment. Secondly, children normally base the theories on the personal experiences that they go through while interacting with objects and persons in the environment. Thirdly, the child uses ‘Schemas’ in order to master or gain information regarding the environment. Lastly, sophistication of any child cognitive structure intensifies as a child develops as it did with a child’s schemas. A child’s schema is a tool case of responses and actions to make things happen, initiating with rudimentary connections like grabbing or mouthing items and finally progress towards extremely sophisticated skills like scientific observation. Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist, is the naissance father of the process of psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud’s main concerns were psychoanalysis which is a clinic...
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...Lifespan development is the field tha examine pattern of growth, change, and stability in behavior. (womb to tomb) * Major topical Areas (Physical Dev., Cognitive Dev., Personality Dev., Social Dev.) * Physical- Body and the brain. * Cognitive- Growth and behavior * Personality- Stability and change * Social- interaction and relationships grow * Cultural factors and developmental diversity * Broad factors * Orientation toward individualism or collectivism * Finer differences * Ethnicity * Race * Socioeconomic Race * Gender * Korosol increase stress * Cohort- group of people born at around the same time in the same place * Age graded influences- similar at particular age group * Sociocultural graded influences- social and cultural factors present at a particular time. * Modafin * Critical period- environmental stimuli are necessary for dev. * Sensitive Period- Certain kind of stimuli in environment. * Development is constructed thru biological, sociocultural, and individual factors working together. * Development is lifelong * Early adulthood is not the endpoint of development * No age perios dominates * Development is Multidimensional * Consist of biological, cognitive, and socioemotional dimensions * Multiple components within each dimension * Health and Well-Being * Parenting and Education * Sociocultural...
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...Information Processing Theory Selicia Whidbee-Denmon AED202 April 1, 2012 Tracey Morgado Abstract Information Processing Theory The information processing theory is a group of theoretical frame works that address how the human beings receive, think about, mentally, modify and remember information and how such cognitive processes change over the course of development. (Child development pg.186) Information processing theory emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s and has continued to evolve in the decades that have followed. (Child development pg.186) The five key components in the information process theory are sensation, perception, sensory register, working memory, and long-term memory. Sensation is the physiological detection of stimuli in the environment. (Child development pg.187) Perception is how your mind uses sensory input to make sense of the world around you. The mind takes sensory impulses from the eyes, nose, skin and ears. These details are used to form an idea of the surrounding environment. (askkids.com) then there’s sensory register, which are the memories that last no more than about a second or two. There are two different kinds of memory when it comes to sensory register, Iconic memory and Echoic memory. (audiblox2000) Working memory is a system if domain-specific stores or formats for temporarily representing information along with a domain-general supervisor or executive attention mechanism. (Randall W. Engle, 2010) Long-term memory is the...
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...Literature review of Piaget’s theory of developmental psychology (1954), object permanence and a critical evaluation of Piaget’s theory in relation to recent studies that show different results to that which Piaget originally gathered and based his stage theory on. Introduction The work of Jean Piaget (1896-1980), has made him go down in history as one of the most instrumental and influential figures in the history of psychology to date. His contribution to the world of psychology is based around the field of developmental psychology. He transformed this area of psychology and laid the foundations upon which subsequent research can be based around and undercover more of the truth behind the cognitive development of infants. Piaget believed that the key to understanding children’s thought processes is not whether they get the answer right, rather the key lies within how they arrived at the answer (Holt et. al, 2012). Piaget stated that our brains hold schemas, which are responsible for organising our patterns of thoughts and actions (Holt et al., 2012). Building on this mental framework he introduced the concepts of assimilation and accommodation which helped lay down the foundation upon which he could build his work on. Piaget committed 50 years of his life to study the intellectual development that occurs in children which ultimately led to the development of his well-acclaimed staged theory of cognitive development (Hock, 2009). His theory is based on the idea that four...
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...Juliette Gordon Low: Analysis of Development By: Mary E. Dean May 3, 2014 Lifespan Development Walden University Spring Quarter 2014 Prof. V. Salzer Juliette Gordon Low is most recognized for founding and running what is now known as Girl Scouts of America. Her insight and forward thinking for her time led to this astonishing achievement but what did it take for her to get there, who or what influenced her to rise above the conventional thinking of her time and forge to such great heights? In this analysis I hope to discover answers to that question while exploring age old concepts like nature versus nurture and comparing such development theories like Erickson’s stages of development and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Juliette Gordon Low, or Daisy as she was known in her childhood, was born October 31, 1860 into a life of privilege in Savannah, GA. Juliette was the second oldest of six children. Her father William Washington Gordon was born in the south and strongly believed in the true southern traditions such as owning slaves and that the South should succeed from the Union. While her mother, Eleanor Lytle Kinzie whose family helped to found the city of Chicago and believed intensely in abolition. These opposing views caused much anguish for Juliette’s mother during the Civil War and would play a strong influence on the family dynamics as Juliette grew up. While her parents described her has having a sweet personality and caring disposition her sibling...
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...Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development The cognitive development theory is a comprehensive theory about the nature and development of human intelligence. It is primarily known as a developmental stage theory, it deals with the nature of knowledge itself and how humans come gradually to acquire, construct, and use it. Piaget felt, cognitive development was a progressive reorganization of mental processes as a result of biological maturation and environmental experience. “For that reason, children construct an understanding of the world around them, and then experience discrepancies between what they already know and what they discover in their environment.”(McLeod 2014) Additionally, Piaget claimed the idea that cognitive development is at the center of the human organism, and language is contingent on cognitive development. Stages of Cognitive Development • Sensori-motor: (Birth-2 yrs) Differentiates self from objects. Recognizes self as agent of action and begins to act intentionally: e.g. pulls a string to set mobile in motion or shakes a rattle to make a noise. Achieves object permanence: realizes that things continue to exist even when no longer present to the sense. • Pre-operational :( 2-7 years) Learns to use language and to represent objects by images and words. Thinking is still egocentric: has difficulty taking the viewpoint of others .Classifies objects by a single feature: e.g. groups together all the red blocks regardless of shape or all the square blocks regardless...
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...Development Theory”1 “Child Development Theory” Ney Brown PSY104: Child and Adolescent Development Instructor: Daniella Atwell August 20,2012 “Child Development Theory” 2 Child development occurs from birth and continues throughout adulthood, and during their life span they go through many different changes, including language, physical growth, and cognitive abilities. Interest in this field has been very important to researchers because they want to know what happens during child development as well as the influences on development. There are a few theorist who have their views on child development and they are Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget. Understanding child development has become very important today as we all want to Know what a child actually goes through during their development, and later on in life because most of these things will affect them later on in life. Many people don’t realize the many different stages a child goes through from birth and into early adulthood. Some of the major theories of development...
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...The sensory motor period is characterised by a lack of understanding of object permanence, if they can’t see it, it does not exist until they develop a theory of mind whilst the preoperational stage is characterised by egocentrism,...
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