3.

4 Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan

I. Key Theorists and Their Models

​ 1.​ Jean Piaget: Stages of Cognitive Development
​ •​ Sensorimotor Stage (0–2 years)
​ •​ Characteristics: Infants experience the world through senses and actions
(looking, touching, mouthing).
​ •​ Key Concepts:
​ •​ Object Permanence: Understanding that objects continue to exist even when not
perceived (develops around 8 months).
​ •​ Stranger Anxiety: Fear of unfamiliar individuals (begins around 8 months).
​ •​ Preoperational Stage (2–7 years)
​ •​ Characteristics: Use of symbolic thinking and language but lack logical
reasoning.
​ •​ Key Concepts:
​ •​ Egocentrism: Difficulty seeing the world from another’s perspective.
​ •​ Animism: Belief that inanimate objects have feelings.
​ •​ Theory of Mind: Understanding that others have thoughts, feelings, and
intentions (develops later in this stage).
​ •​ Lack of Conservation: Failure to understand that quantities remain the same
despite changes in shape.
​ •​ Concrete Operational Stage (7–11 years)
​ •​ Characteristics: Logical thinking about concrete events, mastery of conservation
tasks, and mathematical operations.
​ •​ Key Concepts:
​ •​ Conservation: Understanding that properties like mass, volume, and number
remain constant despite changes in form.
​ •​ Reversibility: Ability to mentally reverse an action.
​ •​ Formal Operational Stage (12+ years)
​ •​ Characteristics: Abstract and hypothetical thinking develops.
​ •​ Key Concepts:
​ •​ Deductive reasoning and problem-solving.
​ •​ Ability to think about moral, ethical, and political issues.

​ 2.​ Lev Vygotsky: Sociocultural Theory

​ •​ Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): The range between what a learner can do
independently and what they can achieve with guidance.
​ •​ Scaffolding: Supportive guidance that helps a child progress through their ZPD.
​ •​ Emphasis on social interaction and language as key components in cognitive
development.

​ 3.​ Erik Erikson: Stages of Psychosocial Development (Cognitive Focus)

​ •​ Cognitive abilities evolve as individuals resolve crises in different stages (e.g.,
identity formation in adolescence relates to abstract thinking).
​ 4.​ Information Processing Theory
​ •​ Emphasis on gradual cognitive changes rather than distinct stages.
​ •​ Key Concepts:
​ •​ Attention span increases over time.
​ •​ Memory capacity improves with age.
​ •​ Development of metacognition (thinking about thinking).

II. Cognitive Development Across Lifespan Stages

​ 1.​ Infancy and Toddlerhood (0–2 years)
​ •​ Rapid neural development (synaptogenesis and pruning).
​ •​ Milestones: Object permanence, basic problem-solving.
​ 2.​ Early Childhood (3–6 years)
​ •​ Egocentrism decreases; basic theory of mind emerges.
​ •​ Play is central to cognitive learning (e.g., pretend play).
​ 3.​ Middle Childhood (7–11 years)
​ •​ Logical reasoning and problem-solving improve.
​ •​ Academic skills (reading, math) rely on cognitive maturation.
​ 4.​ Adolescence (12–18 years)
​ •​ Abstract thinking develops.
​ •​ Ability to plan for the future and evaluate hypothetical scenarios.
​ •​ Increased self-awareness and identity exploration.
​ 5.​ Early Adulthood (20–40 years)
​ •​ Practical problem-solving increases.
​ •​ Cognitive flexibility: Adapting to new challenges in work, relationships, and
education.
​ 6.​ Middle Adulthood (40–65 years)
​ •​ Fluid intelligence (problem-solving) begins to decline, but crystallized intelligence
(knowledge) remains strong.
​ •​ Expertise in specific fields can peak.
​ 7.​ Late Adulthood (65+ years)
​ •​ Decline in processing speed and memory retrieval.
​ •​ Wisdom and accumulated knowledge often compensate for some cognitive
losses.
​ •​ Neuroplasticity: Continued capacity for learning and adaptation.

III. Cognitive Challenges and Aging

​ 1.​ Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI): Decline in memory or thinking skills beyond
typical aging.
​ 2.​ Neurodegenerative Disorders:
​ •​ Alzheimer’s disease: Progressive memory loss, confusion, and decline in
reasoning.
​ •​ Parkinson’s disease: Impairments in motor skills and executive function.
IV. Influences on Cognitive Development
​ 1.​ Biological Factors:
​ •​ Genetics (e.g., predisposition to disorders).
​ •​ Nutrition and health during critical periods.
​ 2.​ Environmental Factors:
​ •​ Socioeconomic status and access to education.
​ •​ Cultural practices that shape cognitive development.
​ 3.​ Life Experiences:
​ •​ Exposure to enriched environments fosters neural connections.
​ •​ Stress and trauma can negatively affect cognitive functioning.

V. Applications and Assessments

​ 1.​ Applications:
​ •​ Teaching strategies: Tailoring methods to developmental stages (e.g., scaffolding
for young learners).
​ •​ Interventions: Early diagnosis and support for developmental delays.
​ 2.​ Assessment Tools:
​ •​ Intelligence tests (e.g., IQ tests).
​ •​ Developmental milestone checklists.