Cognitive Development Discussion

There are 3 discussion questions here. Please answer the questions and give deep and creative thoughts. Each question write around 150 words.

1. Some theorists believe there is a stage of cognitive development beyond Piaget’s fourth formal operational stage. These theorists believe “post-formal thought” is a new cognitive development that emerges in early adulthood to tackle a new set of cognitive tasks that cannot be accomplished using formal operational reasoning. Theories on this fifth stage of cognitive development are speculative. Do you agree that early adulthood coincides with a new development in cognitive processing? Do you believe post-formal thought is a different form of thinking about problems or a new higher set of capabilities? Support your answers using evidence from theories mentioned in the textbook, other resources, and/or personal experiences.

2. Although changes in memory occur with aging, these effects are often not as profound as believed in society, and the age at which these changes occur is often later than people assume. What are some of the age-related changes in memory that surprised you from the readings? Also, what are some of the cognitive processes that might relate to these age-related changes in memory, and what are some of the environmental or experiential factors that may help to bolster memory in middle and later adulthood.

3. Wisdom is something often thought to emerge in middle and later adulthood. But not all people in this stage are considered wise, and wisdom is not a trait that is only observed in later adulthood. What do you think explains advancements in wisdom over time? Are there ways in which young(er) people may also become wise or demonstrate their wisdom? And what is the relation between wisdom and other aspects of cognitive functioning and wellbeing in mid- and late-adulthood?