Theories of Cognitive Development

What aspects do theories of cognitive development primarily aim to understand?

• Brain development and growth

• Emotional intelligence and social skills

• Mental processes, knowledge acquisition, problem-solving abilities, and thinking patterns

• Genetic factors influencing cognitive factors

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which of the following is an example of the process of assimilation?

• When a child sees a zebra for the first time and calls it a dog.
• When a child sees a zebra for the first time and calls it a donkey.
• When a child sees a zebra for the first time and calls it a cow.
• When a child sees a zebra for the first time and calls it a horse.

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which of the following is an example of the process of accommodation?

• When a child learns that all four-legged animals are cats.
• When a child learns that all four-legged animals are dogs.
• When a child learns that all four-legged animals are horses.
• When a child learns that not all four-legged animals are dogs, but can also be cats or horses.

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which of the following is an example of the process of assimilation?

• A child modifies their existing schema to accommodate new information

• A child encounters a new experience that alters their existing schema

• A child uses an existing schema to make sense of a new experience

• A child discards an old schema and creates an entirely new one

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which of the following is an example of the process of accommodation?

• A child modifies their existing schema to accommodate new information

• A child encounters a new experience that alters their existing schema

• A child uses an existing schema to make sense of a new experience

• A child discards an old schema and creates an entirely new one

Which developmental achievement is associated with the sensorimotor stage?

• Development of language skills
• Development of object permanence
• Development of abstract reasoning
• Development of social interaction

What is a key characteristic of the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development?

• Abstract thinking and reasoning

• Goal-oriented behavior during adolescence

• Formal operational thinking

• Exploration through senses and physical actions

During the preoperational stage, what is a characteristic of children's play and imagination?

• Increased use of symbols, such as pretending a broom is a horse

• Difficulty using objects to represent other things

• Limited ability to pretend

• Decreased use of symbols

What defines the intuitive thought substage during the preoperational stage?

• Ability to use numbers and perform mathematical operations
• Ability to use symbols and engage in pretend play
• Ability to understand abstract concepts
• Ability to engage in logical reasoning than just perception alone

What characterizes the concrete operational stage of cognitive development?

• Increased ability to understand abstract ideas

• Decreased ability to perform mental operations

• Logical thinking only applicable to physical objects

• Enhanced proficiency in symbolic thought