Cognitive Development, Stages of

Much attention in research on cognitive development has been given to early childhood and late adulthood. As a result, early theories developed through observing children have been applied to older adults, which led to deficit views of cognitive ability in later adulthood. These views acknowledge that cognitive development progresses from infancy through childhood and into adulthood, at which point it starts to decline into older adulthood. These deficit views also tend to view cognitive ability in limited ways, primarily by focusing on speed and performance. Theories and concepts of lifespan cognitive development are more likely to consider the roles of context, developmental and learning tasks, and the environment in cognitive performance and are more likely to consider cognitive strengths in addition to cognitive deficits associated ...