What developmental model does the information-processing approach contrast with?

The information-processing approach contrasts primarily with Piaget's theory. While Piaget's perspective emphasizes the stages of cognitive development and how children actively construct knowledge through interactions with their environment, the information-processing approach focuses on the mechanisms of cognitive processes, likening the mind to a computer that processes information in a linear and systematic way.

This approach breaks down cognition into specific components, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving, and examines how these processes work together to influence learning and behavior. Unlike Piaget, who proposed that children move through distinct stages of development that change qualitatively, the information-processing model sees cognitive development as a more continuous process that can be analyzed in terms of speed and efficiency of information processing.

In contrast to other theories, such as behaviorism, which emphasizes observable behavior without delving into internal cognitive processes, the information-processing perspective provides a detailed framework for understanding the nature of mental operations. Similarly, social learning theory focuses on learning through observation and the social context, while attachment theory explores emotional bonds. All these perspectives differ fundamentally from the information-processing model in their approach to understanding how cognition develops over time.