Ann: A beautiful day, everyone! I’m Dr.

Ann

Joana: And I’m Dr. Joana Eboña. Welcome to “Today’s PsychTalk”. Our last episode was
very informative and we received a lot of good feedbacks.

Ann: Yeah Right Dr. Joana

Joana: And because of that we’re thrilled to have you join us on our new exciting and
interesting episode! As we have explored Social Development of a Child last episode, today
we’re going to dive deeper into the fascinating world of Cognitive Development!

Ann: Indeed! Now, when we say ‘cognitive development’, we’re talking about how we, as
humans, learn to think, reason, remember, and problem-solve from infancy through
adulthood.

Joana: That’s right, Dr. Ann. And no one has contributed more to our understanding of this
process than the Swiss psychologist Dr. Jean Piaget. His theories have shaped the way we
perceive cognitive development.

Ann: Absolutely, Dr. Joana. Piaget’s theory is unique because it’s not just about learning; it’s
about growing. It’s about how our mental processes evolve as we interact with the world
around us.

Joana: And today, we’re going to dive deep into this development!

Ann: So, whether you’re a parent, a teacher, a student, or just someone curious about the
workings of the human mind, stay tuned as we unravel the intricacies of Cognitive
Development Theory of Jean Piaget .

Joana: To help us navigate this topic, we have with us the renowned International
psychologists Dr. Maria Luisa Gipanao from Minds that Matter Psychology Hospital and Dr..
Rezza Bernardo from University of the Philippines. Welcome, Doctors!

Ann: And welcome to

Ann&Joana: “Today’s PsychTalk”.
Joana: Let’s get started!
Ann: Good day Doctors!
Mariel/Rezza/Aimie: Hello Dr. Elopre and Dr. Eboña
Joana: So doctors, Thank you for being here. Let’s dive right into it. Cognitive development
is a complex process. Could you provide us with a brief overview?

Mariel: Certainly, cognitive development refers to the growth and progression of our mental
abilities, such as thinking, problem-solving, memory, and language. Cognitive development
in children is not only related to acquiring knowledge, children need to build or develop a
mental model of their sorrounding world. Among the areas of cognitive development are
information processing, intelligence, reasoning, language development and memory.
Children’s logic and modes of thinking are initially entirely different frim those of adults. So
for example a Cognitive learning in a classroom includes encouraging students to figure out
answers for themselves rather than telling them. In that way we can let them reflect on their
answers and explain how they came to their conclusions. Jean Piaget’s theory outlines four
distinct stages that individuals go through as they develop.

Rezza: That’s right. Let’s take a closer look at each stage. In the sensorimotor stage, which
occurs from birth to around 2 years old, infants explore the world through their senses and
actions. For example, a baby might grasp and shake a rattle to understand cause and effect. As
they develop object permanence, they realize that even if a toy is hidden, it still exists.

Ann: Fascinating!

Aimie: The preoperational stage follows, typically from ages 2 to 7. Children in this stage
develop language skills and engage in pretend play. However, their thinking is still
egocentric, meaning they struggle to consider other people’s perspectives. For instance, a
child might believe that if they don’t like broccoli, nobody else does either.

Joana: So, how does cognitive development progress from there?

Mariel: The concrete operational stage, which spans from ages 7 to 11, is the next step.
Children in this stage become more capable of logical thinking and understanding
conservation. Conservation refers to the understanding that the quantity of a substance
remains the same even if its appearance changes. An example would be recognizing that
pouring the same amount of liquid into a tall and short glass doesn’t change the amount of
liquid.

Rezza: Finally, we have the formal operational stage, typically from age 11 and beyond. This
is when individuals gain the ability to think abstractly, engage in hypothetical reasoning, and
consider multiple perspectives. For instance, they can ponder philosophical questions or
understand complex mathematical concepts.

Joana: It’s truly remarkable how our cognitive abilities evolve throughout our lives. Let us
show a viral video of a kid to have a better understanding why we should have knowledge of
this stages of cognitive development of a child

(Show Video)

Ann: Actually it is a heartbreaking video of a child, Parents who understand these stages can
better support their child’s learning and development instead of scolding or ignoring them.
They can provide appropriate challenges, encourage problem-solving, and foster a love for
learning.

Aimie: Understanding cognitive development allows parents to nurture their child’s mental
growth effectively. It helps them comprehend why their child thinks and behaves in certain
ways at different ages, and how they can support their child in becoming a well-rounded
individual.

Ann: That was so informative doctors. Now, we’re going to ask one audience to have their
questions answered by our psychologists regarding to this topic. Ms. (…)
Audience: Good day Doctors! Is trauma could affect cognitive development of a child?

Mariel: Yes, experiencing trauma can be indeed affect cognitive development of a child .
Traumatic events can have a significant impact on a child’s cognitive development, often
leading to various challenges and disruptions in their cognitive functioning. Some of the ways
this theory can be applied to trauma can be seen in the following quote from Psychological
Trauma: A Developmental Approach Book by Dora Black
Rezza: Absolutely! Piaget theories, however, can also be useful for understanding learning in
general and can be applied quite usefully to survivors of trauma. His theories pertaining to
the acquisition and processing of knowledge are helpful in understanding the ways in which
trauma survivors process the events and emotions surrounding aversive lifetime experiences.
Survivors of trauma can often be helped by understanding how they cognitively processed the
trauma.

Aimie: When a child experiences trauma, it can disrupt the formation and functioning of
cognitive schemas. Traumatic experiences can lead to the development of negative or
distorted schemas, such as beliefs about oneself, others, and the world that are based on the
traumatic event. These negative schemas can impact the child’s cognitive processes,
including their perception, memory, and interpretation of subsequent events.

Ann: Right Doctors! Dr. Jean Piaget, felt children were born with different schemas, which is
a roadmap or blueprint a person uses to categorize and process the acquisition of knowledge.
Assimilation and accommodation are closely linked to schemas. Assimilation is when an
individual modifies their current schema. Accommodation is when an individual changes
their schemas.
Equilibration refers to the process of achieving a balance between assimilation and
accommodation. It involves seeking cognitive equilibrium or a state of cognitive harmony by
adjusting schemas to fit new information.

Mariel: Traumatic experiences can introduce information or events that challenge a child’s
existing schemas, leading to cognitive disequilibrium. The child’s pre-existing schemas may
no longer adequately explain or make sense of the traumatic experience, causing a state of
imbalance in their cognitive development.

Rezza: Trauma can also lead to the development of negative self-schemas, where the child
internalizes beliefs about themselves as being damaged, unworthy, or helpless. These
negative self-schemas can hinder the child’s cognitive development by influencing their
perception, interpretation, and assimilation of new information, as well as their ability to
accommodate their schemas to incorporate positive experiences.

Joana: And that’s how parents play the most critical role in supporting their child’s cognitive
development. Their presence, guidance, emotional support, and modeling of positive
cognitive behaviors can significantly impact their child’s ability to navigate the effects of
trauma and promote healthy cognitive growth and resilience.To support a child’s cognitive
development, it is essential to provide a safe and supportive environment.
Ann: Alright !Thank you, Dr. Gipanao and Dr. Bernardo for sharing your insights on
cognitive development. It’s been an enlightening discussion.That’s all the time we have for
today’s episode of Today’s PsychTalk.

Joana: Join us next time to our new interesting topic all about psychology. Stay curious!