Vocabulary 3.4 Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan, 3.5 Co

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assimilation

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the process of incorporating new information or experiences into existing cognitive schemas or mental structures

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Object Permanence

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The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched, typically developed during the sensorimotor stage of Piaget's theory.

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accommodation

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In the context of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the process of modifying existing cognitive schemas (mental structures) or creating new ones to incorporate new information or experiences.

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formal operational stage

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In Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the fourth stage, occurring from about age 12 through adulthood, characterized by the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and engage in hypothetical thinking.

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schema

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a mental framework or organized pattern of thought that helps individuals interpret and understand information about the world.

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conservation

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the understanding that certain properties of objects, such as quantity, volume, or number, remain constant despite changes in their physical appearance.

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sensorimotor stage

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the first stage of cognitive development in Jean Piaget's theory, occurring from birth to about 2 years old, characterized by the infant's exploration of the world through sensory experiences and motor actions.

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preoperational stage

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In Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the second stage, occurring from about 2 to 7 years old, characterized by symbolic thought, egocentrism, and the use of language and imagination.

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Animism

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The belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities and are capable of action, common in young children.

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concrete operational stage

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In Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the third stage, occurring from about 7 to 11 years old, characterized by the ability to think logically about concrete events and grasp concrete analogies.