...Cognitive Theorist – Jean Piaget Terry Cross University of Phoenix 10/17/2014 Contribution of the theorist in the field of learning Jean Piaget was one of the pioneer psychologists who concentrated on the systematic analysis of cognitive development. Jean Piaget contributed in the field of learning by developing a theory of cognitive development in children. His detailed and close observational studies of children’s cognition in addition to administering ingenious tests to children revealed varying cognitive abilities. Piaget’s drive to study the cognitive development in children was informed by the psychological assumption that children have reduced or less thinking competency that adults. As such, Piaget made observations that children have a different mode of thinking compared to adult members of the society. Piaget established that children have innate and basic genetically inherited and evolved mental structures upon which later knowledge and learning stems from (Piaget, 1936). The cognitive theory developed by Piaget contributes to the understanding of cognitive development in children. Cognitive development theory by Piaget concentrates more on the cognitive development and does not argue about learning and acquiring information on given behaviors. Cognitive theory details elaborate stages of cognitive development that differ from one another. As such, the cognitive theory contributes to the field of cognition by explaining processes and systems by...
Words: 853 - Pages: 4
...Cognitive Theorist PSY/390 Elizabeth Schnobrich September 15, 2014 The cognitive theory is an approach to psychology that attempts to explain human behavior by understanding the thought process. In humans, it is assumed that thoughts are the primary determinants of emotions and behavior. The cognitive theory mainly rejects behaviorism because it reduces complex human behavior to simple cause and effect. However, there has been a trend going around the past decade or so that leans towards merging the two into what is known as cognitive behavioral theory. This allows therapists to use more techniques to help achieve goals. One cognitive theorist who is well known throughout psychology is Edward C Tolman. Edward C Tolman was a very influential theorist who introduced many new concepts and vocabulary into the field of psychology. Before psychology, Edward C Tolman studied engineering. He spent a majority of his career at Berkeley and eventually earned his Ph.D. at Harvard. He enjoyed working with his research students and confesses that he received many of his ideas from the students themselves. Behaviorist said that psychology should study observable behavior and that nothing happens between stimulus and response. Basically, there are no cognitive processes that take place. Edward Tolman challenged these behaviorist by proposing that people and animals are active information processes and not passive learners as suggested. “Tolman believed individuals do more than merely...
Words: 735 - Pages: 3
...Conspiracy theory Protective sense of human-beings naturally help observe others’ action whether it is hostile or not. A person, who is suspicious of persecutory actions from others around him for some or no reason due to excessive protective sense, is said to be jealous. When this sense goes even further, it becomes a disease. In medicine, it’s called paranoia. This is one type of schizophrenia. Paranoia leads one to reach quick conclusion about why a bad thing has happened to him, accuse the suspect easily and overlook one’s easy conclusion. This disease is common in any society. Personal analysis is much better and healthier and therefore less prone to this disease while paranoia at the level of society is more common as it is more prone. Psychologists say that this has to do with the fact that individuals are directly responsible for consequences of his action while no one is held responsible for actions of society as a whole. Society is much more susceptible to paranoia and is easy to escalate it once infected. In other words, society holds much stronger conviction in order to find the person guilty of causing bad things got them. It’s very common for social paranoia to be directed towards people with different nationality, religion and beliefs, and different social strata. Its symptoms manifest in accusation and suspicion. Victims of social paranoia tend to be accused of having supernatural power and association with witches, and of plotting evil conspiracy. This delusion...
Words: 1910 - Pages: 8
...of psychosocial development theory, and the stages of faith theory. I will focus on the three theories because I feel that they are extremely interesting to the growth and development of humans. To be more specific, I want to focus on exactly what the theories are and how they are important and/or related to the human growth and development. As well, I want to focus on at least on theorist who is known specifically for the theory I focus on. I also want to identify the aspects of the life span from that theory’s perspective. Last, but definitely not least, I want to discuss in detail how the heredity and the environment have influence on human development. By the end of the paper, you as the reader, should have a better understanding of the three theories of my choosing and how human development works. Psychoanalytical Theory The first theory related to human growth and development that I want to focus on is the psychoanalytical theory. With this specific theory, the personality organization and the development of the personality dynamics is he focus. Probably the most influential theorist of the psychoanalytical theory is Sigmund Freud. He first laid out the psychoanalytical theory in the nineteenth century but there have been a plethora of refinements since then. “Based on his observations, he developed a theory that described development in terms of a series of psychosexual stages” (Cherry, 2014)).Freud’s colleague and fellow philosopher, Eric Erikson,...
Words: 973 - Pages: 4
...Information Processing Theory Dietrick L. Smith Jr. AED/202 May 5, 2013 Sheila Brock Information Processing Theory The information processing theory approach to the study of cognitive development evolved out of the American experimental tradition in psychology. Developmental psychologists who adopt the information-processing perspective account for mental development in terms of maturation changes in basic components of a child’s mind. The theory is based on the idea that humans process the information they receive, rather than merely responding to stimuli. Next, is the sensation component of this theory which is a process that allows the senses to pick up and almost record what they find such as what they are seeing in their vision, also what they hear as well whatever the senses come in contact with then goes to the brain to be stored. Following these is the working memory component this is what allows us to keep all the information we come across in our mind. Although the working memory only allows us to keep it there for a short period of time. Which then takes us to the short memory portion of the working memory. This perspective equates the mind to a computer, which is responsible for analyzing information from the environment. According to the standard information-processing model for mental development, the mind’s machinery includes attention mechanisms for bringing information in, working memory for actively manipulating information, and long-term memory...
Words: 1430 - Pages: 6
...Explain why behavioral and cognitive learning theories are especially relevant to curriculum development in nursing. Give an example of each of these types of theories and explain how the theory can be used for curriculum development in practice (i.e. staff development) or nursing education. Curriculum is not just an event but it is a development and deliberative process that takes time, effort, and faculty commitment (Billings & Halstead, 2009). Change is expected when there is a curriculum in place because of its effects on the external changes such as community pressure, policy changes, and funding resources (Billings & Halstead, 2009). Learning theories focuses on noticeable change in mental knowledge and also believed that mental actions can no longer be overlooked. There are many different norms of cognitive learning theories, some learning processes are unique to human beings and cognitive processes are the focus of the study. Another concept of the theories is that objective, organized remarks of societies’ behavior should be the center of scientific inquiry; conversely, implications about noticeable mental processes can often be drawn from such behavior. Learning theorists believe that learning involves the formation of mental associations that are not reflected in the overt behavior changes and students are actively involved in the learning process. Learning is also a process of connecting new data to earlier learned information. For example, as children...
Words: 337 - Pages: 2
...perspectives and name at least one leading theorist for each. Three major psychological perspectives are behavioral, sociocultural, and cognitive. The behavioral perspective views behavior as the result of environment experience. Environmental experience is basically all of a person’s life experiences that they have been subjected to in the past, and also the new experiences that will take part in their behavior. The behavioral perspective gained great momentum in the 20th century because it was a powerful tool in training, education, and industry. Critics claimed that behaviorism was dehumanizing. (John B. Watson, http://www.ccis.edu/, 5/17/13) and others conducted a thorough explication of Classical Conditioning and B. F. Skinner, responding somewhat to the critics of behaviorisms dehumanization, explained and expertly defended the processes of Operant Conditioning. Basically based off of a person’s environment will depict the way that they may behave. The cognitive perspective focuses mainly on the cognitive processes that are involved in learning, also on how a person’s brain works. It’s a form of psychology that examines internal mental processes such as a person’s perception, their thinking, their language, memory, problem solving and creativity. Cognitive psychologists focus mainly on how a person understands things, or how they solve problems, while also involving themselves that mediates between stimulus and response. Cognitive psychology has become associated with computer...
Words: 765 - Pages: 4
...we are products of our environment and also supports behaviourism. Another debate is continuity v discontinuity, some individuals have created continuity theories and others have created discontinuity theories. Continuity theorists believe that the development of an individual is constantly continuous while discontinuous theorists believe that there are specific periods where individuals develop. For example Freud’s psychosexual stages are a discontinuous theory. There is also an issue of nomothetic vs idiographic; some theorists adopt a nomothetic approach while others adopt an idiographic approach. Individuals that adopt a nomothetic approach create theories based on what we share with others, and find general laws that can be applied to large groups of people, for example behaviourism is a nomothetic approach. On the other hand the idiographic approach goes into large detail for the individual to investigate why we are unique, for example Freud’s theory is an idiographic approach. There are six principle psychological perspectives which are applied to the understanding which includes; behaviourism, social learning, psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive and developmental. These perspectives can be used to explain the development of individuals. Cognitive development starts when developing from when we are born. It refers to how intelligence, conscious thought and problem solving develop from infancy. As well as improving the ability to think, learn and reason. Jean Piaget...
Words: 7676 - Pages: 31
...environments that Stimulate Cognitive Growth? Word count: 1299 It is important for teachers to understand how children grow cognitively so that they can create learning environments that stimulate their students’ cognitive growth. There are many theories behind how this can be done. This essay will examine the impact of one of leading theorists of children’s cognitive development, Jerome Bruner (1915- ). Bruner’s influence on teaching practice is still relevant for teachers today. Several examples from my recent practicum illustrate how teachers could apply aspects of Bruner’s theories such as the nature vs nurture debate, categorization, discovery learning, spiral curriculum and three modes of representation. Cognitive development is a field of psychology theorizing children’s mental ability to process information and to critically think, reason, remember and understand that information (Duchesne, McMaugh Bochner, & Krauser, 2013). The nature vs nurture debate is ever present in this area. Theorists have different viewpoints on the extent to which nature, genes, DNA and maturation determine a person’s cognitive abilities. Are we born with a fixed cognitive ability? Or are how we were raised, our interactions and our experience the major factors in our cognitive growth? Bruner believed that our cognitive development was determinant on both nature and nurture. Nurture was significant because it would amplify a human’s natural cognitive capabilities (McLeod, 2008)....
Words: 1389 - Pages: 6
...Cognitive Psychology Psych 560 May 20, 2013 Prof. Pitt Cognitive Psychology The brain is one of the major faculties that provide sense to human life. The numerous and various abilities of the human brain are truly amazing. However, although it is a common thought that man may think extraordinarily, human emotions have great influence to how human beings think, and use his brains. It is the reason why any activity facilitated or performed by the brain is called a mental processes or cognition. Cognition refers to the process that involves mental or cognitive ability such as in learning, comprehension, judging, thinking, problem-solving, remembering and recalling (Kendra, 2011). Neisser (2009) defined cognition as the “act of knowing, and cognitive psychology is the study of all human activities related to knowledge”. (Page 1) Cognitive psychology is a part of the larger field of cognitive science and is related to various disciplines in psychology such as neuroscience, linguistics, and philosophy. The main thrust of cognitive psychology is how the people acquire, store and process information. Compared with other dominant approaches in psychology for example, the behaviorism approach which is concerned with the observable behaviors, the cognitive approach focuses on internal mental states. Unlike psychoanalysis which is focused on subjective perceptions, the cognitive psychology...
Words: 1201 - Pages: 5
...THEORIES - COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORIES l CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 5 Learning Theories - Cognitive Learning Theories LE ARNI NG OUTCOMES After studying this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Explain what is cognitive revolution and the cognitive perspective on learning and how it differs from other theoretical perspective; Discuss the origins of the contemporary cognitive perspective including the Gestalt psychology and the role of perception; Describe the Information processing model to learning and distinguish the features of ‘Multistore model’; Explain what is schema theory; Link schema theory to cognitive structuralism and examine the role of insightful learning and meaningful learning; and Discuss application of cognitive theories in the classroom. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 104 CHAPTER 5 l LEARNING THEORIES - COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORIES INTRODUCTION Sometimes you wonder why the teacher use colourful chalk with some of the words written on the board. Sometimes the teacher write in capital letter with important words. These are useful as guides for the students to differentiate the important and unimportant facts. In other words, accurate perception is important in good learning. It is part of the Gestalt principles. Clearly, these principles are useful as guide for teachers as they organize their materials and learning activities. So in this chapter, we will discuss the origin and features of cognitive theory and relate them to cognitive constructivism...
Words: 8597 - Pages: 35
...Sternberg, 2012) This essay will introduce Information Processing Theories and briefly explain the key concepts and explore the importance of these theories in relation to teaching in the classroom. The significance of these theories in relation to understanding childrens learning and development will be discussed and we will touch on how these theories can be beneficial in developing an educational pedagogy. The strengths and limitations will be identified and reviewed and the key concepts will be critically reflected apon. We as humans process information with remarkable proficiency and we accomplish problematic tasks such and critical thinking, faster and more accurately than some very sophisticated machines. (Halpern, 2003; Kuhn, 1999) Theorists have developed a systematic model of memory, according to Woolfolk & Margetts (p.250) the most common and universally recognised by research is information processing theory, this is a well-documented analysis for examining learning and memory. The information processing theory as defined as ‘The human mind’s activity of taking in, storing, and using information’. (Woolfolk A &Margetts K p.205) Information processing theory is a proposed system of how we: perceive, encode, store and retrieve data. Encoding is the process of forming memories and receiving information, Storage is the continuing storage of received information this is significantly more effective when linked to prior experience and retrieve data is being able to bring the...
Words: 7195 - Pages: 29
...critical to sports performance. Executive functions are vital for beginners to learn novel skill sets with the presence of habitual responses as well as for experts, such as Olympic athletes, to facilitate goal-directed actions without distraction. And in terms of cognitive computation, athletes aim to develop skilled movements by accomplishing their goals at the lowest possible cost (Wilson, 2008). From a cognitive psychology perspective, anxiety is viewed as an emotion characterized by the negative affect that impairs performance (Eysenck, 1996). Several theorists have argued that the negative performance effects of anxiety...
Words: 795 - Pages: 4
...ATTITUDE Introduction Attitude refers to a learned tendency to evaluate things in a special ways which may include evaluation of people, issues, object, or event. The evaluation can be positive or negative and can be uncertain at times. Researcher who took a more behavioural stance define attitude as predisposition to respond consistently in a positive or negative way to some person, object, or situation. Psychologist are in a better position to meet the goals of psychology (describe, explain, predict and influence) when they know the attitude of people. COMPONENT OF ATTITUDE Attitude have been seen as having three dimensions which include A. Cognitive: this represents belief, thought and expectation held about the object of ones attitude. B. Affective or emotional: this reflects feelings or emotional reactions. And can also said to be part of an attitude encompassing how one feels about the object of one attitude. C. Behavioural: this is the predisposition towards actions based on a particular attitude or to act in a way that is relevant to ones attitude. Let see how these three components works together. For example an attitude towards eating caterpillars is said to be unhealthy or likely to do you harm or at any rate the sort of things of things which will make you appear abnormal to others. The effective component will be feelings of disgust or nausea at the thought of eating the things and the behavioural component would be how likely you would be actually...
Words: 1244 - Pages: 5
...Developmental psychology is the study of how and why humans change over the course of their lives. It studies the changes in human growth during their lifetime. Developmental psychology has significantly changed with many theorists who influenced it greatly since the early 1900s. Developmental psychologists study physical, cognitive, social, perceptual, personal, and emotional growth. Jean Piaget studied cognitive development. Piaget focused on how a child developed and how cognitive development was a process which takes place as a result of biological maturation and interaction with the environment. Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory includes four stages, the Sensorimotor Stage, the Preoperational Stage, the Concrete Stage, and the...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
