Child PsychologyCognitive Development.ppt

Child PsychologyCognitive Development McBride-Chang, 2007 Outline Piagets theory of cognitive development and practical implications Information processing theory Overlapping Waves Model Robert Siegler Thought question: The HK Law Reform Commission recommends that the age of criminal responsibility be 10 years old. Currently, the age of criminal responsibility is 7 years of age. Is this change justified, given what you learn about cognitive development today? In other words, is 10 years of age too old, too young, or just right 1 Piagets theory of cognitive development constructivism ? Stages 1 Sensorimotor period 0-2 years a reflexes 0-1 month b primary circular reactions 1-4 months c secondary circular reactions 4-12 months --coordination of 2ndary schemes d tertiary circular reactions 12-18 months e representational thought 18-24 months Stages 2 Preoperational period 2-7 years Focus on conservation Preoperational thought is illogical in the following ways: a Centering b Egocentrism c Irreversibility d Appearance as reality Suggestions for teaching the preoperational child Woolfolk, 1995 Be concrete Make instructions short and use actions to demonstrate Be sensitive to egocentrism Clarify language Do hands-on learning Young childrens play styles 1. Sensorimotor 12 months 2. Constructive after 12 months on 3. First pretend 2nd year 4. Substitute pretend 2-3 years on 5. Sociodramatic 2-4 years on Stages 3 Concrete operational period 7-12 years Mastery of reversibility Inductive logic mastered Deductive logic poor 4 Formal operational thinking adolescents and adults --Abstract thinking mastered --If X is correct, y, z, and a should be observed hypothetico-deductive reasoning Age of criminal responsibility What age is appropriate? Facts China/Taiwan 14 Macau 16 HK: schooling until 15 HK: In sexual abuse cases, child 16 or younger Rehabilitation vs. criminalization Nevertheless, recommend