COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENTALTHEORY JEAN PIAGET COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENTALTHEORY

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development Stage Theorist – 4 stages of cognitive development Developed primarily as a result of observing his own children, and as such… Deemed unscientific by many American psychologists, but…. Results have since been replicated by many attempting to discredit his work

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Basic Concepts Physical action/curiosity/exploration is the basis for cognitive development Adaptation – a continuous process of interacting with the environment, leads to the development of schemas Schema – a habit, reflex or response; may be behavioral or cognitive Assimilation – using an existing schema to handle an environmental demand

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Basic Concepts Disequilibrium – conflict created when new situations can not be assimilated (i.e. an existing schema is unable to handle an environmental demand); leads to….. Accomodation – modifying a response in accordance with environmental demands; leads to new schema development (this is cognitive growth) Equilibration Principle – disequilibrium leads to curiosity and exploration which facilitates cognitive development Figurative vs. Operative Knowledge

ADAPTATION AND ORGANIZATION are essential to EQUILIBRATION TO MAINTAIN EQUILIBRIUM, individuals ADAPT to their environment and ORGANIZE their knowledge ADAPTATION AND ORGANIZATION are essential to EQUILIBRATION The process of maintaining equilibrium

COGNITIVE ABILITIES DEVELOP IN STAGES

STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT SENSORIMOTOR PREOPERATIONAL CONCRETE OPERATIONS FORMAL OPERATIONS

STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT SENSORIMOTOR STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Sensorimotor Stage Birth – 2 yrs of age Schema development is largely sensory and motor related Reflexive behavior dominates stage (ex. Sucking) Eye-hand coordination develops Demonstrates: intentionality object differentiation object permanence

PREOPERATIONAL STAGE IMMACULATE PERCEPTION

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Preoperational Stage Ages 2 – 6 years Schema development involves speech, language and vocabulary and is characterized by: egocentrism reliance on perception irreversibility centration simple classification inability to “conserve”

CONSERVATION OF LIQUIDS PREOPERATIONAL STAGE

STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT SENSORIMOTOR PREOPERATIONAL CONCRETE OPERATIONS

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Concrete Operations Ages 6 – 11 yrs. Ability to reason logically with concrete but not abstract concepts Characterized by: reversibility decentration ability to “conserve” multiple classification seriation

STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT FORMAL OPERATIONS CONCRETE OPERATIONS STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT SENSORIMOTOR PREOPERATIONAL

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Formal Operations Early Adolescence and Adulthood Characterized by: Propositional thinking Experimental reasoning Idealistic Egocentrism Conceptualizes combos

“EVERY TIME WE TEACH A CHILD SOMETHING, WE KEEP HIM FROM REINVENTING IT. ON THE OTHER HAND, EVERY TIME A CHILD DISCOVERS IT FOR HIMSELF, IT REMAINS WITH HIM FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.” Jean Piaget

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Implications Suggests the importance of discovery learning (Bruner) Suggests that learning will be most meaningful if interest and curiosity is peaked (i.e. induce disequilibrium by presenting challenges just beyond the child’s capabilities Suggests there are limits to what can be taught to children; learning is limited by stage characteristics