04/10/2021
Infancy and Preschool
Lifespan Development
Introduction to Developmental and
Social Psychology
Dr Cheryl Pitt
1
Lecture Overview
• Infancy and toddlerhood (0-3 years)
– Cognitive development
– Attachment
• Preschool period (3-6 years)
– Cognitive development
– The development of gender concepts
2
Piaget’s Theory
• Cognitive development
– Jean Piaget (1896-1980): No knowledge without
experience (infants learn by ‘doing’).
– Stage approach to development based on qualitative
change in understanding, as well as increase in
quantity of information acquired.
3
1
, 04/10/2021
Building Schemes
• Assimilation: Taking in new information and attaching it
to the information already held (the existing schema);
• Accommodation: Changing the schema as a result of
the new information, thus adapting the way we behave
or think about something.
• Equilibrations: Significant developmental changes or
major restructuring of a child’s way of thinking.
4
Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage
(0-2 years)
SENSORIMOTOR SUBSTAGE AGE
1. Basic Reflexes Birth to 1 month
2. Primary Circular Reactions 1 to 4 months
3. Secondary Circular Reactions 4 to 8 months
4. Coordination of Secondary Schemes 8 to 12 months
5. Tertiary Circular Reactions 12 to 18 months
6. Transition to Symbolic Thought 18 to 24 months
5
Object Permanence
• Understanding that objects continue to exist when out of
sight
– 6-8 months will look for partially hidden object
– 8-12 months will search for object that has been completely
hidden
– Complete by 12 months
• A-not-B search error: where an object might be found is
limited
• More recent research suggests object permanence
develops sooner
6
2
Infancy and Preschool
Lifespan Development
Introduction to Developmental and
Social Psychology
Dr Cheryl Pitt
1
Lecture Overview
• Infancy and toddlerhood (0-3 years)
– Cognitive development
– Attachment
• Preschool period (3-6 years)
– Cognitive development
– The development of gender concepts
2
Piaget’s Theory
• Cognitive development
– Jean Piaget (1896-1980): No knowledge without
experience (infants learn by ‘doing’).
– Stage approach to development based on qualitative
change in understanding, as well as increase in
quantity of information acquired.
3
1
, 04/10/2021
Building Schemes
• Assimilation: Taking in new information and attaching it
to the information already held (the existing schema);
• Accommodation: Changing the schema as a result of
the new information, thus adapting the way we behave
or think about something.
• Equilibrations: Significant developmental changes or
major restructuring of a child’s way of thinking.
4
Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage
(0-2 years)
SENSORIMOTOR SUBSTAGE AGE
1. Basic Reflexes Birth to 1 month
2. Primary Circular Reactions 1 to 4 months
3. Secondary Circular Reactions 4 to 8 months
4. Coordination of Secondary Schemes 8 to 12 months
5. Tertiary Circular Reactions 12 to 18 months
6. Transition to Symbolic Thought 18 to 24 months
5
Object Permanence
• Understanding that objects continue to exist when out of
sight
– 6-8 months will look for partially hidden object
– 8-12 months will search for object that has been completely
hidden
– Complete by 12 months
• A-not-B search error: where an object might be found is
limited
• More recent research suggests object permanence
develops sooner
6
2
