Cognitive Developmental Approaches

1
Chapter 6

• Cognitive Developmental Approaches Beyond Piaget

2
Postformal Thought

• Not a part of Piagets theory
• Relativistic vs. dualistic thinking
• Postformal thought is closely aligned to the
  concept of postmodern thought

3
Is there Postformal Thought

• Would it have these characteristics?
• Contextual, Provisional
• Relativistic (no absolutes)
• Realistic, practical
• Open to emotions subjective

4
Is there Postformal Thought

• Piaget would object. To him, the highest form of
  reason was formal thought.
• Changing from dualism to relativism would have
  been a step backwards.
• This is more like postmodern thought.

5
Formal OperationalThought

• Traditional Western thinking
• (European, hemisphere, Christian)
• Truth is objective, universal
• Absolute truth applies to everyone, everywhere
  (all cultures), all the time
• This is the basis for science (modernism)
• Also the basis for theistic religions.

6
Postmodern Thought

• Reaction to and denial of modern thought and
  formal logic.
• Truth is the social construction of reality.
• Hence, truth is relative to cultures, societies,
  religions, etc.
• People should try to embrace all variations of
  truth. All ideas are created equal.

7
Perrys Theory Adaptive Cognition

• Learn the transition from dualism to relativism
  in college.
• Probably because you are taught to think this way
  (Vygotsky).
• Simply because you do not know which idea is
  better, does not mean there is no truth or that
  all ideas are created equal.

8
Labouvie-Viefs Theory

• Pragmatic thought is when logic becomes a tool
  for solving real-world problems.
• Inconsistencies are accepted as a part of life.
• Contrasts with the adolescent world
  of possibilities.

9
Adult/Practical Thinking

• Schaies Theory
• Acquisitive Stage Childhood Adolescence
• Achieving Stage Early Adulthood
• Responsibility Stage Middle Adulthood
  (Executive Stage)
• Reintegrative Stage Late Adulthood

10
Lev Vygotsky

• Russian psychologist
• Contemporary of Piaget
• Died young, short career
• Recently popular in United States
• Better suited to postmodern thinking

11
Vygotsky

• Children develop their ways of thinking and
  understanding primarily through interaction with
  others.
• Minds are shaped by culture

12
Vygotskys Sociocultural Theory

• Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
• Scaffolding
• Private speech
• Language used to plan, guide monitor behavior

13
Vygotsky and Education

• Vital role of teaching
• Assess use the ZPD
• Use more skilled peers
• Monitor encourage use of private speech
• Place instruction in a meaningful context