Cognitive development refers to the thought construction processes inclusive of memory, problem-solving, and decision making throughout a human’s life from childhood to adulthood. Bormanaki & Khoshhal (2017) define cognitive development as the change in human beings’ thinking and cognitive realms. Basing on this definition, the authors note that cognitive development entails the different kinds of changes, mainly thought changes that people experience in their daily lives. The key concepts that have been involved in this definition are cognitive realms and changes in thinking processes. Changes in thinking are usually affected by cognitive realms, which entail the areas of interest in cognition. The critical sections in cognition are perception, attention, decision making, memory, and language. Therefore, brain development and the impact of the environment are what significantly influence cognitive development.
On the other hand, Gauvain & Richert (2016) define cognitive development as the process by which human beings acquire, organize, and learn to use knowledge. The authors identify cognitive development as a process for people to put knowledge and skills into practice. The key concepts that have been involved in this definition are the acquisition of knowledge, organization, and learning process incurred before putting knowledge into practice.
According to Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, there are four stages grouped based on age. The four phases are sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage. The sensorimotor stage runs from when a child is born to 2 years. The preoperational stage starts from two years to 7 years, while concrete operational stage starts from 7 years to 11 years old. The last stage, which is formal operational, starts from adolescence to adulthood (Hanfstingl, Benke & Zhang 2019). In the first stage, a child comprehends the world around them through trial and error. The second stage is marked by children thinking at the symbolic level but cannot employ cognitive operations. The child is mature and can use operations when thinking. The last stage is when a person has grown and can think and make effective decisions. Cognitive development is a crucial term in psychology since it is often used in other psychological areas such as the study of perception, behavior and human development, among others (Hanfstingl, Benke & Zhang 2019).
An excellent example of cognitive development experience is the process of neurological development, which takes place in the brain. Usually, neurological development is marked by the brain’s neuroplasticity, which encompasses brain repair when a person incurs an injury. Cognitive development is also evident in the brain’s ability to adapt to new psychological and environmental circumstances.
References
Bormanaki, H. B., & Khoshhal, Y. (2017). The role of equilibration in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and its implication for receptive skills: A theoretical study. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 8(5), 996-1005.
Gauvain, M., & Richert, R. (2016). Cognitive Development. Encyclopedia of Mental Health.
Hanfstingl, B., Benke, G., & Zhang, Y. (2019). Comparing variation theory with Piaget’s theory of cognitive development: more similarities than differences?. Educational Action Research, 27(4), 511-526.
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