PSYC 3440 Chapter 3: Cognitive- Chapter 3 .docx

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3440
• Professor: Meghan Mc Murtry

Document Summary

Darwin"s theory of evolution: competition among species is a basic aspect of existence species change through 2 main processes: variation: genetic combinations and mutation of genetics, selection: survival of fittest offspring. These two processes produce the most change amount the earth"s living things. This same competition also happens with thoughts and ideas. The main challenge of the evolution of cognitive development is to figure out how the competition of ideas/thoughts happens within the person, and to figure out how the variation and selection creates adaptive outcomes. Siegler"s theory: the basic assumption of this approach is that at any time children are using a variety of ways of thinking and that each of these ways of thinking compete with each other for use. The more advanced and efficient ways of thinking are eventually used the most and the less advanced eventually are not used at all. Siegler"s findings indicate that competition leads to adaption.