Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

Basic Building Blocks of the Theory

• SCHEMA – Mental Frameworks to organize and interpret information

• Assimilation – Using an already established schema for a new stimulus

• Accomodation – Developing a schema to adapt to a broader range of stimuli

THE ENGINE

• Assimilation and Accommodation in work in tandem to be the driving force of cognitive development

4 Stages of Piaget’s Theory

• Sensorimotor – (Birth – 2 Years)– Focus is very self-centered (the world

only exists as it exists for me). – Focus is on Sensation and Movement– Difficult to grasp object permanence

unitl around 8 -10 months– Develop ability to imitate around 9

months

4 Stages of Piaget’s Theory• Pre-Operational – (2 – 6 years)

– Lots of language development happening

– Object permanence is established as is the ability to imitate (which means watch your mouth around these kids)

– Egocentrism = trouble with the idea that others perceive the world differently than they do

– Irreversibility – difficulty reversing actions or problems

– Animism – belief that all things are living

4 Stages of Piaget’s Theory

• Pre-Operational – (2 – 7 years)– Difficulty with conservation (you can

change some characteristics but conserve others)

4 Stages of Piaget’s Theory

• Concrete Operational – (6 - 11 years)– Has a grasp on:

•Object Permanence•Reversibility•Other’s POV•Conservation•“What is”

– Has Trouble with:•Gray areas instead of hard and fast

rules/truths

4 Stages of Piaget’s Theory

• Formal Operational – (12 years and beyond)– Develops the ability to work with

high level, symbolic/abstract thoughts and ideas. (truth and justice, math, logic, philosophy etc)

– Now conceives not only “what is” but “what could be”

Flaws with Piaget

• Modern studies are concluding that Piaget’s timeline is not as solid as may have been previously thought.

• HOWEVER – his theory has been validated in that there are qualitative changes in your cognitive ability that progress as you age. More of a continuous process than a stage process.

Flaws with Piaget

• Downplays the significance of environmental, social and emotional factors.