Abstract

GONZALEZ-MORENO, Claudia Ximena  and  SOLOVIEVA, Yulia. Characterization of development level of the symbolic function in preschool children. CES Psicol [online]. 2016, vol.9, n.2, pp.80-99. ISSN 2011-3080.  https://doi.org/10.21615/cesp.9.2.6.

The aim of this study is to characterize the acquisition level of the symbolic function in Colombian preschool children in the city of Bogotá. The study involved 39 children. Children were assessed by a protocol of qualitative psychological evaluation to characterize the acquisition of the symbolic function in materialized, perceptual and verbal levels. The protocol is based on the zone of proximal development concept, which involves the active participation of children and the use of various forms of assistance from the evaluator. The results of the protocol evaluation indicate a low development level of the symbolic function at the end of preschool age. The findings of this study are useful in both education and psychology fields, as it possible to know how the preschool child performs symbolic tasks from the adult’s verbal support. The importance of cooperation space between adult and children in which language is used as a means of support for the implementation of symbolic actions and for independent creation of various forms of materialized, perceptual, and verbal representation is discussed.

Keywords : Symbolic Function; Preschool Age; Psychological Development; Psychogenesis; Assessment of Development; Developmental Measures; Cultural Historical Approach.

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