Skip to main content
Social Sci LibreTexts

9.1: Introduction

  • Page ID
    139914
    • Todd LaMarr
    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Introduction to Theories of Cognitive Development

    The first three years of a child’s life are full of many first-time experiences, from the sensory experiences in early infancy to the various new experiences motor and language abilities afford. Just think about the difference in experience of an infant not yet mobile and an infant who is able to walk around independently! Every experience, whether novel or repeated, supports their emerging cognition. Cognition refers to thinking and memory processes, and cognitive development refers to changes in these processes over time. This section will introduce you to the major theories of cognitive development, with special attention to the theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vyotsky. [1]


    [1] Kelvin Seifert & Rosemary Sutton (2009). “Educational Psychology.” CC by 4.0


    This page titled 9.1: Introduction is shared under a mixed 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Todd LaMarr.