1. Cognitive Development: The Stage Theory of Jean Piaget

2. Overview Jean Piaget (1896—1980) Swiss psychologist
Believed child to be active explorer of his environment
“child scientist”
Developed one of the most influential theories of cognitive development to date

3. Background of the Theory
Proposed that children put new information into schemas through assimilation or accommodation
Divided cognitive development into four stages: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational

4. Definitions Schema—cognitive “framework” or category
Example: A child has a schema for dog, which includes a Golden Retriever
Assimilation—incorporating new information into existing schemas
Example: Child encounters a new dog—Dalmation—and classifies it in the same schema as the Golden Retriever

5. Definitions Continued…
Accommodation—refers to the process of creating new schemas to fit new information
Child sees a horse for the first time
Does not fit into existing schemas
Must create new schema for Horse
Equilibration—driving mechanism of cognitive development
Balances schemas to fit the needs of the environment

6. Stage One: Sensorimotor
Birth—2 Years Old
Children up to eight months old do not have a sense of object permanence—the concept that an object continues to exist even when it is out of sight
Children learn primarily through senses and play

7. Sensorimotor Stage Continued…
Develop Representational Thought—well-formed mental representations
Mental images of toys or objects
Usually develops between 18 months and 24 months of age
Example of Object Permanence:
Generally enter Preoperational Stage at age 2 years

8. Stage Two: Preoperational
Age 2- 7 years
Further development of mental representations
Communication progresses
Children are egocentric—self-centered and incapable to taking another person’s point of view
A child may cover their eyes and believe they are invisible

9. Stage Three: Concrete Operational
Usually occurs between age 7 and 12
Children begin to develop the concepts of conservation and reversibility
Conservation—child recognizes that despite a change in physical appearance, the amount of an object is constant
Example:

10. Concrete Operational Continued…
Reversibility—ability of a child to reverse a physical operation
Example: A child can see that the amount of water remains constant if you pour it into a different size glass, and then pour it back in the original glass
Children at this stage can think logically, but they are limited in abstract thinking

11. Stage Four: Formal Operational
Fourth and final stage
Usually occurs around age 12 and beyond
Children develop the ability to think abstractly about hypothetical concepts

12. The End
The End