What are the negatives of the Cognitive Theory?
• Answer: Well, as I am a student of cognitive development, I’d have to say NONE! No, I’m joking of course. In terms of the negatives, it turns out that Piaget severely underestimated the abilities of children, so the cognitive theory puts milestones at ages that are much later than we find in actual practice. I’d also say that some people would fear that it focuses so much on thought that it might miss some other important features of development. In any case, on the exam, I wouldn’t ask for the positives and negatives and expect a certain list. I’m much more interested in your ability to think up your own reasons for why some theories have strengths and weaknesses. I find that students who are new to these theories actually come up with more interesting ideas than people who’ve been studying them for too long. So, surprise me! Don’t worry, there is not really a “right or wrong” answer to the question you asked, for this or any other theory. • Question: Is the “conceptus” a term that
