Framework for Understanding Children\'s Eyewitness Testimony

Children's Developmental Stages And Testimony

Developmental Stages of Children

Describe a child's developmental stages as they relate to the ability to form memories and recall events.

Piaget is generally considered to have provided the starting point for theories related to child development. Developmental psychologists have established a robust body of literature that builds on Piagetian theory, and sometimes discounts it. Regardless, his work is seminal in the field of child development. Piaget's developmental stages theory has relevance to our discussion; they are as follows:

Sensorimotor stage: (birth to 2 years) it is important to note that this period has six sub-stages, during which intelligence is demonstrated through motor activity and is absent symbol use. Object permanence (memory and conceptualization of things existing out of one's sight) is acquired at about seven months. Infants acquire some receptive language and language symbolism (pointing, using basic sign language) long before they produce meaningful language (speak in words).

2. Pre-operational stage: (2-6 years) This 2-stage period shows demonstration of intellect through use of symbols, language, and imagination. Memory advances, but thinking is nonreversible and not logical with a solid egocentric base. Importantly, theory of mind develops during this stage, enabling children to understand that others have a separate point-of-view from their own. From this, children can interpret and explain what they observe and relay to others.

3. Concrete operational stage: (7-11 years) Intellect develops rapidly in this stage with seven types of conservation forming; that is, physical attributes are understood to have permanence unless altered by a named force or influence. Intellect is demonstrated by logical, systematic manipulation of symbols for concrete objects (circumference, volume, etc.). Mental actions are understood to be reversible and egocentric thought diminishes. In this stage, children attribute meaning to the actions of others based on what they will get or avoid (concrete).

4. Formal operational stage: (12 to adulthood) Intelligence is demonstrated through the logical use of symbols related to abstract concepts. In adolescence, egocentric thought resurfaces, but to a lesser degree than in early childhood. Only about 35% of high school graduates in developed countries achieve formal operations, and it may be absent throughout adulthood. Cognitive maturation establishes opportunity for mental development: environmental influence is the key driver. Interpretation of recalled events is pegged to intellect and is self-referential.

In your opinion, what dynamic is the most influential in the elderly population that causes their dimensioned ability to recall events and situations?

Throughout their lives, people continually process information through assimilation and accommodation, aligning their thinking, constructs, and concepts to the environment. The processes occur simultaneously, contributing to learning, adaptation, and intelligence. In as much as intelligence is influenced by experience, the elderly have opportunity to acquire and process enormous amounts of information. While short-term memory may be affected by attention and emotions, the corpus of information available to an older adult is substantial, and -- unless they show signs of progressive or absolute deterioration as in dementia -- they tend to be skeptical with a broad base of human behavior available for comparison and contrast. Psychologists suggest that the schemas of older adults tend to solidify, as people tend to look for characteristics and events that support their frame of reference. However, here again, it is important to consider the intellectual capacity and education levels of the individuals, as formal instruction requires a more disciplined, nuanced manner of thinking about the world -- which is reflected in the frames people apply to what they see and what they remember.

In your opinion, what dynamic has the most adverse influence on eyewitness testimony?