Cognitive Components of Childhood and Cognitive Disorders, Essay Example

The different cognitive components in children are encompassed in the Cognitive Behaviour Theory. This theory is employed in learning and it aims at developing positive attitudes towards a particular subject or area. The theory suggests that students have four fundamental systems of cognition. These systems mark the different domains within which children associate information and enable them to learn and absorb this information. These core systems are:

Number

This is the ability to learn arithmetic through the use of subtilizing, for small numbers, and approximate fashion, for the larger numbers (Damour & Hansell, 2008).

Space

This is the ability that children develop over time that helps them cultivate the skill of navigation. This skill is directly linked to one’s visual experiences and as such, over time, children develop the skill of forging paths between locations that are familiar to them.

Visual Perception

Visual perception and/or depth perception varies from one child to another. However, there is no clear evidence whether visual experience plays a role in the development of this skill.

Essentialism

This skill is developed by the fact that children are naturally predisposed to think of biological entities as opposed to objects or artefacts (Damour & Hansell, 2008). This is the essentialist thinking and perception of children and its depth and scope vary from one child to another.

Language Acquisition

This is the ability of a child to develop and learn the different facets of language, i.e. syntax, phonology, semantics, phonology pragmatics and discourse (Damour & Hansell, 2008). This also varies from one child to another.

There are different cognitive disorders that a child might develop. They Include:

Amnestic Disorder (Amnesia)

This is a condition where a child cannot retain short term memories or no longer has long-term memories.

Delirium

This is the deterioration of the brain’s capacity to be conscious of its environs or process new information. It can be hypoactive where the individual will appear to be unresponsive or lethargic. It can also be hyperactive where an individual can become aggressive and or hostile for no valid reason (Damour & Hansell, 2008). It can also be a mixed delirium where it is both hypoactive and hyperactive

Mental Retardation

Mental Retardation is where a child has very low cognitive capacities and are caused by delay in mental development while in the womb (Damour & Hansell, 2008).

Works Cited

Damour, L., & Hansell, J. (2008). Abnormal Psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.