ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how the four areas of cognition play an important role in social development. These include perception, memory, thought and language. It is important to have an understanding of both cognition per se and its role in communication in order to fully comprehend social development. Neo-Piagetian theorists continue to adopt Piaget's view of cognitive development progressing unevenly in a stage-like manner. An important neo-Piagetian was Annette Karmiloff-Smith who argued against modularity as the only explanation for cognitive development. The epigenetic landscape can be understood metaphorically by picturing a landscape featuring hills and valleys. The approach of Burrhus Skinner to language acquisition is an environmental one, encapsulated in his behaviourist perspective. Skinner suggested that the environment is the key factor for a child's ability to learn how to communicate verbally. Communication is a process of imparting information about one's feelings, thoughts and needs using sounds, gesticulation, words or behaviour.
