Theories of Cognitive Development Jean Piaget

Jean Piaget ( )

Overview of Piaget’s Theories Sequence of stages Schema: mental structure which helps to organize knowledge

Assimilation – placing new info in a pre-existing schema i.e. Classifying a zebra as a horse (similar traits) Accommodation – modifying schema to fit new info i.e. Forming a new schema for zebra (different than a horse) A horse is a horse, of course…

Sensorimotor Stage (birth-2 years) Senses & actions Reflexes Basics of language Object Permanence: objects removed from sight still exist

Sensorimotor Stage Primary circular reactions –Experiment with own bodies (move arms, make noises w/mouth) Secondary circular reactions –Respond to other people/objects Tertiary circular reactions –Explore outside world

Egocentrism: one-dimensional thinking (everyone thinks/sees like me) –Animism: attribute life to physical, non-living objects –Artificialism: natural phenomena are created by people Preoperational Stage (ages 2-7)

Lacks conservation (has centration) – does not recognize that basic properties of substances such as weight & mass remain the same when other features change (i.e. shape)

Theory of Mind – children’s ideas about their own and others’ mental states (thoughts, feelings) and the behaviors they predictTheory of Mind Symbolic representation

Objective responsibility – assignment of blame according to the amount of damage done rather than the motives of the actor

Concrete Operational Stage (ages 7-12 years) Logic – tangible objects rather than abstract ideas Capable of decentration – they can center on two dimensions at one time (achieve conservation)

Subjective judgments of responsibility Concept of reversibility – recognition that processes can be undone, that things can be returned to their previous condition

Formal Operational Stage (12 years +) Cognitive maturity Abstract thought Hypothetical situations Reasoning & analyzing

Evaluation of Piaget Accurate timing of stages? Does development occur in stages? Do we all go through same stages, same order, same time?

Lev Vygotsky Emphasized intellectual growth based on social environment Scaffolding Zone of proximal development