Basic processes of cognitive development: missing component in Piaget's Theory

Problems associated with the emergence of new cognitive structures are primarily addressed by studies on cognitive development. However, another side of cognitive development is mostly disregarded. Similar to the process of dissimilation in biological organisms and dissipation in the open systems described in physics, adequate cognitive adaptation to the environment requires not only development of new schemas, but also exclusion of some non-adaptive components. This paper aims to attract attention to this issue. Two possible ways of excluding the "wrong" components are discussed. Because these components are either useless or they function as impediments to the organism's ability to respond to the demands of the environment, their exclusion can be described in terms of either extinction or as an active process of dissimilation. Cognitive dissimilation is specifically discussed with regard to the problem of blocking the activation of the impedimental component. The relationships between cognitive dissimilation and the processes of assimilation and accommodation conceptualized in Piaget's theory of cognitive development are emphasized as another issue requiring further investigation. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the 2nd World Conference on Psychology, Counselling and Guidance.