Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan
Chloe Ramirez
3 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers cognitive development theories, focusing on Piaget and Vygotsky. Key concepts include Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development, with emphasis on schemas (assimilation and accommodation), and the sensorimotor stage including object permanence.
#AP Psychology (2025) Study Guide: Cognitive Development 🧠
Hey there, future AP Psych pro! This guide is your one-stop shop for acing the cognitive development section. Let's make sure you're feeling confident and ready to rock this exam!
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Cognitive Development Theories
Cognitive development is all about how our thinking skills grow and change from babyhood to adulthood. We'll explore two big names: Piaget and Vygotsky.
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Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development
Piaget believed that children actively construct their understanding of the world through stages. Think of it like leveling up in a video game!
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Schemas: The Building Blocks
- Schemas: Mental frameworks that organize and interpret information. Think of them like folders in your brain.
- Assimilation: Fitting new info into existing schemas (like putting a new toy in the right bin).
- Accommodation: Changing schemas to fit new info (realizing a square peg won't fit in a round hole).
- Schemas develop through both gradual changes and sudden leaps in understanding.
#Stages: Sensorimotor (0-2 years)
- Learning through senses and motor actions.
- Object Permanence: Understanding that objects exist even when hidden.
- Initially, "out of sight, out of mind."
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