Human Growth and Development

Adulthood and Aging ●​ Working memory may decline in the 50s or 60s, making multitasking harder. ●​ Long-term memory shows both improvement and decline: ＞ ​ Semantic memory (general knowledge) continues to grow. ＞ ​ Episodic memory (specific events) may fade. ●​ Older adults often remember the overall meaning but may forget small details. Information Retrieval Strategies Retrieval means bringing stored information back to mind. Some strategies help with this: ●​ Rehearsal: Repeating information many times. ●​ Elaboration: Expanding simple ideas into more complex thoughts. ●​ Association: Connecting new information to something you already know. ●​ Retrieval Cues: Using objects, sounds, or pictures to help remember. Other techniques, like chunking (breaking information into small groups) or the method of loci (linking information to locations), can also improve memory. Mnemonic strategies (memory tricks) help people at different ages. Young children remember better with visual aids or movement, while older children can use more abstract methods. Studies show that teaching memory techniques helps children at all learning stages. Thinking Thinking is a key part of cognitive development. It helps us analyze information, evaluate evidence, and make decisions. As children grow, they learn to see things from other perspectives (moving beyond egocentrism) and develop skills to reason logically. Understanding different types of reasoning is a central focus in this process.

Type of Reasoning

Description

Example

Deductive Reasoning

Applies general rules to reach specific conclusions. Moves from specific observations to general conclusions. Uses a step-by-step procedure to solve a specific problem. Uses mental shortcuts to solve problems quickly based on past experiences. Involves discussion where one person makes a statement, another responds, and the conversation refines understanding.

"All dogs are mammals, so Fido is a mammal." "Rain makes puddles grow, so rain causes puddles to get bigger." "Solving a math problem using a formula." "Guessing an answer without full calculation." "Debating different viewpoints to reach a logical conclusion."

Inductive Reasoning

Algorithmic Thinking

Heuristics

Dialectical Reasoning

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