There had been numerous cognitive development theories as much as there are theories pertaining to intelligence. This is done in an attempt to understand the complexity of how people learn across their lifespan. While many people might be unaware of how intricate the process of learning occurs without their conscious effort, it significantly affects everyone’s life. Despite the absence of formal education, people still manage to learn by virtue of the definition appropriated for learning by scholars, academicians and cognitive psychologists. For the purpose of understanding and uniformity, I searched for a standard definition of learning available through the internet and the available references that I have in Psychology. From an online source, Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, learning was defined as “modification of a behavioral tendency by experience” (Merriam-Webster). On the other hand, a textbook on Psychology defined learning as "the acquisition of knowledge or skill by instruction or study" (Plotnik and Kouyoumdjian 4). This confirmed my insights of learning that it does not necessary has to happen inside a classroom. With the affordance of the internet and the accessibility of people over this medium of learning, intelligence is enhanced.
Theory on Cognitive Development
If there is one theory that I particularly believed in would one initiated by John Locke. Locke believes that people are born without no recollection or any knowledge or skill. He claims that every newborn’s mind is a tabula rasa (Locke). This is the foundation that many Cognitive Developmental psychologists used for their theory. This was the foundation that Piaget used for his Theory of Cognitive Development. Both Piaget and Locke believes that learning and intelligence is acquired not so much by process of learning but by doing. Perhaps the definition that they have of learning was limited then to the formal type of education. Nevertheless, Piaget’s stand on knowledge acquisition is isolated to the fact that people need to engage in the process of learning in order to assume the insights further (Psaltis and Duveen). This also paved the way for the Operant Conditioning, a style of learning where people learn through the process of trial and error (Domjan 244-249).
Intelligence
The Theory on Cognitive Development as developed by Piaget and supported by Skinner and Locke all claims the same thing that intelligence can be developed and enhance. Intelligence, therefore, cannot be innate. It is acquired and enhanced. The widely embrace concept of genetics and heredity might play a significant role, but it is not the origin for an individual’s intellectual capacity. Intelligence has many facets and for this Gardner’s Theory on Multiple Intelligence has been able to capture all types of cognitive abilities that individuals possess. Gardner calls these facets of intelligence as modalities. This is Gardner’s modification to the accepted concept of intelligence having to be singled out by a general ability (Waterhouse).
Harmonizing Cognitive Development and Intelligence
In summary, I can relate all the insights I have provided from my personal experience. Growing up, I wasn’t the active learner. I was more of a playful child who rather enjoy watching television, playing with my toys and chatting with friends. I do not like to engage in a formal type education that reads books, perform mathematical equations or conduct scientific experiments. However, I grew up not as an illiterate person who cannot understand things or has problem learning. In fact, I could say that I have enhanced my communication abilities from watching too much television which my mother would, usually, say has nothing good to bring to a learning child. I guess on that part while I still strongly believe mothers know best my mom is quite mistaken. From my talking too much to people of diverse backgrounds I have learned a lot about human behavior and much about their culture as well. Finally, my endless pursuit of playing with toys allowed me to develop my abstract reasoning skills. This is because majority of my toys are building blocks, Lego, and other educational toys that my parents always get me for Christmas and my birthdays. Cognitive development supports for the gradual processing of intelligence. This is how I would rationalize my personal cognitive development.
Works Cited
Domjan, Michael. The Principles of Learning and Behavior: Active Learning Edition. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
Locke, John. "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding." Bizzell, Patricia and Bruce Herzberg. The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to the Present. New York: Bedford-St. Martin's Publishing, 2000. 814-827. Print.
Merriam-Webster. "Learning." 23 July 2014. Merriam-Webster Online Collegiate Dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/learning. 14 October 2014.
Psaltis, Charis and Gerard Duveen. "Social relations and cognitive development: The influence of conversation type and representations of gender." European Journal of Social Psychology (2006): 407–430. Print.
Waterhouse, Lynn. "Multiple Intelligences, the Mozart Effect, and Emotional Intelligence: A critical review." Educational Psychologist (2006): 207–225. Print.
