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Absorbent mind

Definition

The unique ability of young children within the first plane of development, from birth to age six, to effortlessly and unconsciously absorb and internalize information from their environment. The absorbent mind, which is a universal and temporary state, allows children to adapt to their culture and form their character based on the conditions and experiences they encounter. The child absorbs impressions effortlessly and without fatigue, taking in the totality of impressions similar to a camera.

Bibliographic references

Maria Montessori
  • Montessori, M. (2016). Education for a new world (pp. 10, 11, 13, 14, 16). Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company. (Original work published 1946)
  • Montessori, M. (2018). The absorbent mind (pp. 3-5, 12, 20-23, 51-52, 54-56, 59, 63, 68, 70-72, 76, 88-91, 98, 100, 149, 154, 169, 236, 265). Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company. (Original work published 1949)
  • Montessori, M. (2017). The formation of man (pp. 37, 58, 61). Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company. (Original work published 1955)

Montessori Related Sources
  • Haines, A. (1993). Absorbent Mind Update: Research Sheds New Light on Montessori Theory. The NAMTA Quarterly, 18(2), 1-20.

Modern Scientific Insights

Relationships

Related Terms
  • Cultural adaptation
  • Incarnation
  • Maximum effort
  • Self-construction

Narrower Terms
  • Conscious worker
  • Engrams
  • Horme
  • Mneme
  • Nebulae
  • Unconscious creation

Broader Terms
  • First plane of development

Terms from Other Vocabularies
  • Thesaurus Cognitive psychology of human memory: embodied cognition
  • Thesaurus Cognitive psychology of human memory: implicit learning
  • ERIC Thesaurus: Child Development
  • ERIC Thesaurus: Cognitive Development

Notes

Historical notes

Community notes

Persistent identifier

ark:/99152/t35v6gw2ewp3mq

 

License

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