Section One, Lesson Two: Cognitive Development

Question 1

continuous development

Answer 1

Development occurs as gradual change over time.

Question 2

discontinuous development

Answer 2

Development occurs in distinct stages/phases.

Question 3

nature vs nurture debate

Answer 3

Whether genetics (nature) or environment (nurture) plays the bigger role in development and behavior.

Question 4

normative approach

Answer 4

Establishing population averages (norms) to compare an individual’s development to typical milestones.

Question 5

Piaget’s theory (core idea)

Answer 5

Children develop cognition through stages and learn by interacting with their environment.

Question 6

Piaget’s stages (in order)

Answer 6

Sensorimotor → Preoperational → Concrete operational → Formal operational.

Question 7

Vygotsky emphasize

Answer 7

Development is socially mediated; learning happens through interaction and guidance from more knowledgeable others.

Question 8

Zone of Proximal Development (Vygotsky)

Answer 8

Skills a child can do with help but not yet alone; learning occurs with guidance/scaffolding.

Question 9

Baillargeon’s ideas

Answer 9

Infants show earlier understanding of object permanence and object properties; infants have innate cognitive abilities earlier than once thought.

Question 10

Chomsky propose about language

Answer 10

Language acquisition is innate and guided by universal grammar.

Question 11

developmental psychology

Answer 11

Study of how and why humans change across the lifespan, integrating biology, psychology, and social science.

Question 12

crystallized intelligence

Answer 12

Accumulated knowledge and verbal skills that often stay stable or improve with age (contrasts with fluid intelligence: solving novel problems).