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Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

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The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
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Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
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Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
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A Dynamical Reconceptualization of Executive-Function Development.

Sammy Perone1, Vanessa R Simmering2, Aaron T Buss3

  • 1Department of Human Development, Washington State University.

Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science
|February 17, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Executive function development is explained by dynamic systems theory, viewing it as context-specific behavioral control using mental content. This approach offers new insights into goal-directed behavior and its development in children.

Keywords:
child developmentcognitiondevelopmental processdynamic-systems theoryexecutive function

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Executive function is crucial for daily behaviors throughout life.
  • Current theories of executive function development are still evolving.
  • Doebel's model proposes executive function involves context-specific behavioral control using mental content, contrasting with modular views.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the resemblance between Doebel's executive function model and dynamic systems theory.
  • To evaluate the contributions of dynamic systems theory to understanding executive function development.
  • To explain the emergence of goal-directed behavior across development and contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Review and application of core dynamic systems concepts.
  • Analysis of executive function through the lens of dynamic systems theory.
  • Development of a dynamic systems model for goal-directed behavior in childhood.

Main Results:

  • Dynamic systems theory provides a framework for understanding the multilevel nature of goal-directed behavior.
  • This perspective illuminates how goal-directed capacities emerge across development.
  • A dynamic systems model illustrates goal-directed behavior during childhood.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic systems theory offers a valuable framework for conceptualizing executive function development.
  • This theory highlights the importance of context and the assembly of components in behavior.
  • Translational implications exist for fostering children's goal-directed behavior in everyday settings.