LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY B3

UNIT-1 AND UNIT-2

COGNITIVE CHANGES

● COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENCE

Cognitive development in adolescence refers to the development of the ability to think
and reason in more complex ways. This includes the ability to think about possibilities,
reason from known principles, consider many points of view, compare and debate
ideas, and think about the process of thinking itself.

Early adolescence is marked by the beginning of the use of formal logical operations.
Adolescents become more capable of abstract thinking and are able to consider
different perspectives on issues. They may also begin to question authority and societal
norms.

Middle adolescence is a time for further development of formal logical operations.

Adolescents may become more interested in philosophical and futuristic concerns, such
as their own identity and future goals. They may also begin to think more systematically
about relationships and decision-making.

Late adolescence is a time for consolidation of cognitive development. Adolescents

become more capable of using their thinking skills to focus on less self-centered
concepts and to make more informed personal decisions. They may also begin to think
more about their role in adult society.

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Here are some common indicators of cognitive development in adolescence:

● Early adolescence:
○ Use of formal logical operations in school work
○ Questioning of authority and societal norms
○ Formation and verbalization of own thoughts and views
● Middle adolescence:
○ More extensive questioning and analysis
○ Thinking about and forming own code of ethics
○ Thinking about different possibilities and developing own identity
○ Thinking about and making plans for the future
○ Beginning to think on a long-term basis
● Late adolescence:
○ Thinking about global concepts such as justice, history, politics, and
patriotism
○ Development of idealistic views on specific topics
○ Debating and discussing a great deal, but also showing intolerance to
opposing views
○ Focus on making career decisions
○ Focus on emerging role in adult society

It is important to note that cognitive development in adolescence is not a linear process.

Adolescents may experience periods of rapid growth and development, followed by
periods of consolidation and reflection. They may also struggle to apply their newfound
thinking skills in real-world situations.

Overall, cognitive development in adolescence is a complex and fascinating process

that helps young people to become more independent and informed thinkers.

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 ● SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Reasons for underperformance at school in adolescence:

● Lack of motivation
● Problems at home or with peers
● Poor work habits or study skills
● Emotional and behavior problems
● Learning disabilities
● Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
● Mental retardation or below average intelligence
● Other medical problems, including anxiety and depression

Motivational problems in early adolescence:

● Early adolescents have lower perceptions of their competence for different

school subjects than do their younger peers.
● Adolescent's valuing of different school subjects often declines as they move
through school, with the declines especially marked across the transition to
middle school.
● Their intrinsic motivation for learning often decreases as well.

Implications for middle school counselors:

● Motivational problems can become more central during early adolescence.

● This can be a time period in which adolescent motivation declines in significant
ways.

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 ● Counselors can help identify children most at risk of becoming demotivated at
school, and work with teachers to help foster these adolescents' motivation.

How middle school counselors and teachers can help:

● Cooperation among counselors, teachers, and administrators

● Involvement of parents
● Programs and curricula to foster students' development in multiple domains
● Responsive counseling to assist with personal issues
● Cultural awareness and sensitivity
● Advocacy for and attention to the diverse needs of all students

Focus on the particular developmental issues that early adolescents face:

● This should be an important part of all middle school counseling programs.

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Information processing approach :

* Information processing is the change of information in any manner detectable by an

observer.

* Information processing can be viewed in terms of parallel processing, where multiple

pieces of information are processed simultaneously.

* The information processing theory is an approach to cognitive development that studies

the flow of information as it is passed from one stage to another within a person's mind.

* The information processing theory is based on the idea that the human mind is similar to
a computer in the way it receives, stores, retrieves, and uses information.

* The information processing model is a four-stage model that describes how information
is processed in the mind. The four stages are the sensory register, short-term memory,
working memory, and long-term memory.

The information processing perspective has been influential in many areas of psychology,
including education, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence. It has helped us to
better understand how people learn, think, and solve problems.

Here are some additional thoughts on the information processing perspective:

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* The information processing perspective is a powerful framework for understanding
human cognition, but it is important to note that it is not without its limitations. For
example, it does not take into account the role of emotion or motivation in cognition.

* The information processing perspective has been criticized for being too reductionist, or
for breaking down human cognition into too small and isolated parts. However, it is
important to note that the information processing perspective is not meant to be a
complete theory of human cognition, but rather a tool for understanding how certain
cognitive processes work.

Overall, the information processing perspective is a valuable tool for understanding human
cognition. It has helped us to better understand how people learn, think, and solve
problems.

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2nd brief :

**Information Processing Perspective**

Information processing is the processing of information by a system. This system can be a

natural system, such as the human brain, or an artificial system, such as a computer.
Information processing is a complex process that involves many different steps, including:

* **Perception:** The process of receiving and interpreting information from the

environment.

* **Encoding:** The process of converting information into a form that can be stored in
memory.

* **Storage:** The process of holding information in memory.

* **Retrieval:** The process of accessing information that is stored in memory.

* **Output:** The process of communicating information to others.

The information processing perspective is a way of understanding human cognition that

views the mind as an information processor. This perspective is based on the idea that the
human mind works in a similar way to a computer, receiving, processing, and storing
information.

**Information Processing Theory**

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Information processing theory is a theory of human cognitive development that is based on
the information processing perspective. This theory was developed in the 1950s and 1960s
by researchers such as George A. Miller and Herbert A. Simon.

Information processing theory views the mind as a series of interconnected processing

systems. These systems are responsible for different aspects of cognitive function, such as
attention, memory, and problem-solving.

Information processing theory has been used to explain a wide range of cognitive
phenomena, including:

* **Memory capacity:** The limited amount of information that can be held in short-term
memory.

* **Forgetting:** The process by which information is lost from memory.

* **Problem-solving:** The process of finding solutions to problems.

* **Decision-making:** The process of choosing between different options.

**Information Processing Model**

The information processing model is a model of human cognitive function that is based on
the information processing perspective. This model describes the different stages involved
in processing information.

The information processing model consists of three main stages:

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1. **Sensory memory:** The initial stage of information processing, where sensory
information is stored for a very brief period of time.

2. **Short-term memory:** The second stage of information processing, where

information is stored for a longer period of time and can be consciously processed.

3. **Long-term memory:** The third and final stage of information processing, where
information is stored for a long period of time and can be retrieved when needed.

The information processing model is a useful tool for understanding how the human mind
processes information. It can be used to explain a wide range of cognitive phenomena,
such as memory, problem-solving, and decision-making.

**Implications for Education**

The information processing perspective and information processing theory have a number
of implications for education. For example, these theories suggest that:

* **Students have limited attention spans:** Students can only focus on a limited amount
of information at a time. This means that teachers should break down complex tasks into
smaller, more manageable steps.

* **Students need to rehearse information to remember it:** Students need to rehearse

information in order to move it from short-term memory to long-term memory. This means
that teachers should provide students with opportunities to practice what they are
learning.

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* **Students need to be taught how to learn:** Students need to be taught how to learn
effectively. This includes teaching them how to encode information, store information, and
retrieve information.

Teachers can use the information processing perspective and information processing
theory to improve their teaching practices. For example, they can use these theories to
design more effective lessons and activities, and to help students develop better learning
strategies.

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