Overview
This lecture introduces cognitive theory, primarily Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, and explains how it bridges psychoanalytic and behavioral perspectives by focusing on thought processes. It also covers the stages of cognitive development and introduces the information processing theory.
Piaget’s Cognitive Theory
- Cognitive theory posits that our thoughts mediate between impulses and actions, shaping behavior.
- Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, founded cognitive theory based on his research into children's reasoning.
- Piaget argued children are active thinkers from birth, not passive beings.
- Children have a basic mental structure that develops through environmental interaction and learning.
Key Components of Piaget’s Theory
- The three main components: schemas, adaptation, and stages of cognitive development.
- Schemas are mental models or frameworks used to organize knowledge and experiences.
- When faced with new experiences, children enter disequilibrium (mental imbalance).
- Adaptation occurs through assimilation (fitting new info into existing schemas) or accommodation (creating new schemas).
- Frequent exposure to new experiences enhances cognitive development.
Stages of Cognitive Development
- Sensorimotor Stage: Infants learn through senses and physical interaction (e.g., touching, mouthing objects).
- Preoperational Stage: Children use symbols, language, and engage in pretend play; thinking is egocentric.
- Concrete Operational Stage: Children apply logical thinking to concrete objects; learning through hands-on experiences.
- Formal Operational Stage: Adolescents develop abstract, hypothetical thinking and can reason beyond direct experience.
Extensions and New Insights
- Cognitive theory, along with psychoanalytic and behavioral theories, forms the basis of developmental psychology (grand theories).
- Advances in brain imaging (MRI, fMRI) provided deeper insight into cognitive processes.
Information Processing Theory
- Information processing theory compares the human brain to a computer: input (senses), processing (brain), output (action).
- Sensory input is processed by the brain, resulting in a behavioral response or action.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Schema — A mental framework for organizing and interpreting information.
- Assimilation — Integrating new experiences into existing schemas.
- Accommodation — Modifying schemas or creating new ones for new information.
- Equilibrium — A mental state of balance; disrupted by new experiences.
- Information Processing Theory — Compares cognitive functioning to computer-like input, processing, and output.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch the assigned video on Piaget’s stages of cognitive development.
- Review the three grand theories and their major contributors.
- Prepare for further discussion of cognitive stages in future lectures.