Lesson 11

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

“The process of understanding the world through experiences is called cognitive (mental)
development.”

Cognition refers to the mental process that people use to gather knowledge about the
world as well as the knowledge itself. Every aspect of human life is marked with cognition
and it is a continuous process of learning.

Factors Influencing the Cognitive Development:

The ability to learn and remember is there from the very beginning, as a child grows the
ability to control mental processes like emotions is acquired and then human develop
social connections.

Following factors influence cognition

1. Social & cultural factors, social groups invite people to learn new behaviours.
2. Social nature of mind, communication and social interactions.
3. Learning written & spoken language.
4. Motivation from environment to learn new things.
5. Individuals and social groups suggest new ideas.

“The process of development of brain with the help of language, imagination,

reasoning, thinking, memorizing & problem solving is called Cognitive Development. ”

Theory of Cognitive Development Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980)

He was a Swiss child psychologist who studied the behaviors of his own children from birth
onwards.

Piagetian Method of Investigation

Jean Piaget used this method of investigation with children. In this method problems and
tasks were presented to the children of different ages and their responses were analysed.
Then on the basis of the analysis more question were asked.
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
The cognitive development is done in stages, in children; there are 4 stages of mental
development.

1. Sensorimotor Stage
this is the infancy stage (birth - 2 years), the thoughts of the baby are confined with
no symbolic representation.
2. Preoperational Stage
pre-school (2-7 years) stage when thoughts are intuitive but not logical, the skills of
symbolic thinking and language initiate.
3. Concrete Operational Stage
childhood (7-11 years) stage when thoughts get logical & conversation comes in.
4. Formal Operational Stage
Adolescence and adulthood; 11 years onward when person is able to deal with
abstract or even absent.

Neither environment nor hereditary is enough to explain it.

The thinking of children is developed through 2 simultaneous processes:

1. Assimilation which is taking in new knowledge in to existing patterns or schemes.

2. Accommodation which is modification of the patterns to accept the new
knowledge.

Erik Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

He developed "Eight Stages of Man" and according to this theory a man throughout life
passes through “crisis” & “sensitive periods” and in the resolution of problems learns new
skills to deal with the future problems effectively.

His eight stages of psychosocial development are,

1. Trust vs. Mistrust (infancy)

2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (early childhood)
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (late childhood)
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (School)
5. Identity vs. Role confusion (Adolescence)
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood)
7. Adulthood Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)
8. Ego Integrity vs. despair (Old Age)
9.
Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of Moral development
According to him moral reasoning develops in stages and there are six identifiable stages of
moral development that can be classified into three levels,

1. Level 1 (self-interest, obedience & punishment)

Pre-conventional: judging the morality of an action by its direct consequence.
2. Level 2 (conformity & social order )
Conventional: start accepting social rules, norms and laws.
3. Level 3 (social accord)
Post-Conventional: Universal concepts like human rights and social justice emerge