PSYA02H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10.2: Jean Piaget, Harry Harlow, Introjection

• School: UTSC
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYA02H3
• Professor: Kyle Danielson

Document Summary

One key insight to emerge from several lines of research is that for many systems, certain periods of development seem to be exceptionally important for long-term functioning. A sensitive period: a window of time during which exposure to a specific type of environmental stimulation is needed for normal development of a specific ability. To become fluent in language, infants need to be exposed to speech during their first few years of life. Long-term deficits can emerge if the needed stimulation, such as language, is missing during a sensitive period. However, although sensitive periods can explain the emergence of many perceptual (and some cognitive) abilities, they are only one of many mechanisms underlying human development. Actively studied, made copious notes of his observations, and even ran specific tests and measurements on his own children as they were growing up. The theories that resulted from this extensive personal project laid much of the groundwork for the modern science of cognitive development.