A review of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development Brian Kelley, M.A., LPC Kaplan University

Piaget…the Basics Who was Piaget? –Swiss Psychologist –Developed a theory that explains how humans “make sense of their world by gathering and organizing information.” –4 “Stages” of Cognitive Development (Organization) –Adaptation (Assimilation and Accommodation)

Piaget…the Basics Theory contains elements of both Nature and Nurture (but primarily Nature) Stages Experience

2 ELEMENTS OF ADAPTATION Assimilation vs. Accommodation Assimilation –Incorporating new information into one’s present system of knowledge. Accommodation –As a result of new information we must change or modify existing schemas. *The term EQUILIBRATION refers to “balance” between Assimilation and Accommodation.

DOGGIE ASSIMILATION ACCOMMODATION DOGGIES DOGGIEKITTY

4 Stages of Cognitive Development Sensorimotor Stage (Birth-2) Preoperational Stage (2-7) Concrete Operations Stage (7-12) Formal Operations Stage (12- adulthood)

Sensorimotor (birth-2) Imitation Memory Object Permanence Basis of action a reflex ReflexesGoal Directed Activity

Preoperational (2-7) Gradually develops use of language Think in symbolic form Think things through logically in one direction Egocentric thought Laws of Conservation

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development Sensorimotor Stage (Birth-2) Preoperational Stage (2-7) Concrete Operations Stage (7-12) Formal Operations Stage (12- adulthood)

Concrete Operations (7-12) “Piaget defined concrete operations as a set of powerful, abstract schemes that are critical building blocks of logical thinking, providing internal rules about objects and their relationships,” (Bee & Boyd, 2007).

Concrete Operations (7-12) Mastery of Conservation Reversibility Class inclusion Inductive/Deductive Logic Cause and Effect Mental Operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

Formal Operations (12-adulthood) Ability to think about the unseen Ability to consider a range of possibilities [Understands the concept of the possible, as in moral dilemmas, justice, understanding of self, vocational aspirations]vocational Approach problems systematically, as in the ability to make a prediction, revise thinking (given new evidence), and revise and improve a disconfirmed hypothesis. Thinks logically: Understands and uses principles of scientific thinking (e.g., inference, deduction, hypothesis-testing, ruling out alternative hypotheses)

Formal Operations (12- adulthood) Systematic Problem Solving Logic –Hypothetico-Deductive Reasoning

Do we all reach Formal Operational thought?

Criticism of Piaget’s Theory Infants more sophisticated than Piaget thought… Some children as early as 4-5 have ability to see things from another’s point of view…indicating that they are not as egocentric as Piaget thought. Some have voiced concerns about Piaget’s hypothesis that children automatically progress from Concrete Operations to Formal Operations. Environment may play a role in the development of Formal Operations. Issues with Research. Piaget’s own children were highly influential in his research. Only worked with a limited number of children (most from high SES backgrounds).

References Bee, H., & Boyd, D. (2007). The developing child (11th ed.). Boston: Pearson. Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2005). Psychology (7th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson. Woolfolk, A. (2007). Educational psychology. Boston: Pearson.