Cognitive development is the process of building thoughts that entail remembering things, solving any problems and making decisions from our childhood through to adulthood. Infants are believed to lack the capability to think hence they have to learn the language first before developing cognition. When babies are born, the learning process begins. The surrounding setting around the baby helps it to learn and grow thinking and observation skills through gathering, arrangement and giving out information around them. Psychologist Lewis Terman was the first to adopt a test that studied the cognitive development of children in the United States of America. In his study, he conducted an intelligence test and basing the scores on the perception of mental age. Lewis Terman believes that a child's intelligence matches his or her age whereas a child with high knowledge is compared to that of another child of old age while a child with low information gets compared to another child of a younger generation (Bjorklund, 2004).
Strengths
Piaget
The Piaget cognitive theory of development has contributed to the development of psychology in a significant way by bringing about a whole new perspective. Due to the need for quality development, various fields of studies have used Piaget's ideas for learning. The theory of Piaget has also made communication process and understanding of children to be simple. The approach is also being used in various educational programs and has greatly helped in the instructional policies.
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Vygotsky
Vygotsky's perspective identifies how social, culture relate with cognitive development in a human being which explains how different cultures do things differently across the globe. This theory is crucial since it helps us to become aware of the various ways in which people think.
Information-Processing
Information processing theory achieves significant values after processing of large quantity of data. Also, this theory clearly shows the revolution that is happening in development psychology focusing its attention on the dynamic mental developments. The argument also makes different thinking become easily understood at various stages. (Thornton, 2003)
Weaknesses
Piaget
Research done over recent years does not agree with Piaget's theory. The study states that all children do not automatically move from stage A to B. the theory of Piaget also faces lots of challenges from recognized processes. According to Carlson and Buskist, Piaget's opinion does not clearly explain what changes exactly occur in a child. Carlson and Buskist believe that Piaget's theory is vague since it doesn't state any specific details that can link a child's behavioral change and changes that happen in his or her mind.
Vygotsky
Proximal development zone in Vygotsky theory is not stated explicitly. The method does not capture the kid's ability levels nor any motivational control whatsoever. The approach also regards the collective role of the surrounding disregarding an individual's character. The Vygotsky theory also doesn't tend to be relevant across all social and cultural faction.
Information-Processing
The information theory does not explain very clearly about the complete behavior. The method also does not expound well on complex cognition and emotional development in human beings. The information processing approach is seen to abandon emotions and actions. (Neisser, 1967)
Comparison
Both Piaget and Lev Vygotsky concurred that the process of cognitive development was the same across all the individuals and that the growth took place step by step. Both theories agree that kids get to learn complex skills and can break down complicated information as they grow old. The arguments of cognitive development emphasize both natures. The theories agree heredity plays a crucial role in the maturity of body and brain.
Contrast
The theories also have differences. In the learning process, Piaget's opinion indicates that children acquire knowledge through active discovery whereas the method of Vygotsky means the best way the kids learn is through taking in instructions and getting guidance. The theory of Piaget strongly believes that cognitive development results in the language while Vygotsky's opinion indicates that cognitive development is as a result of communication (David, 2004).
References
Neisser, U. (1997). Cognitive Psychology.
David, B. (2004). Cognitive Development and Individual Differences.
Thornton, S. (2003) Introduction to Children’s Cognitive development.
