A Cognitive-Developmental Approach to Children's Representations of the Environment

Abstract

Explored here is a cognitive-developmental approach to children's representations of the environment. This approach draws upon a model for the study of environmentbehavior relations originally presented by Joachim Wohlwill. The model emphasizes three relationships: the direct effects of the environment on behavior, the indirect effects of the environment asmodulated by characteristics of the individual, and the effects of behavior on the environment. The model is discussed in terms of a Piagetian orientation to cognitive development and the emergent representational competencies of individuals. Empirical illustrations of the value of Wohlwill's model are provided through a discussion of two programs of research, the first concerning children's memory for spatial locations and the second concerning children's ability to create and use a variety of environmental representations, including maps. Emphasized are the need for a comprehensive definition of representation, the importance of identifying cognitive processes undergirding particular representational tasks, and the influence of the environment.