1. Questions to Consider
What are some of the different theories of developmental psychology?
What are some of the developmental milestones in:
prenatal?
childhood?
adolescence?
adulthood?

2. Major Theories in Developmental 
Piaget’s (1963) four stage cognitive developmental theory.
Erikson’s (1963) eight stage theory of psychosocial development.
Kohlberg’s (1969) three stage theory of moral development.

5. Piaget’s (1963) Cognitive Developmental Theory
Premise of Piaget’s theory:
physical development of the CNS and brain leads to:
cognitive and intellectual development in humans.
Four stages of cognitive development:
sensori-motor stage (birth to 2 years).
pre-operational stage (2 to 7 years).
concrete operational stage (7 to 11 yrs.)
formal operational stage (11 yrs. & up).

6. Piaget’s (1963) Theory Sensori-motor stage -- birth to age 2:
Description of Stage:
Experiencing the world through their senses and actions (looking, hearing, touching, mouthing, & grasping.)
Cognitive difficulty—lack of understanding object permanence:
an object an infant no longer sees becomes, literally, “out of sight, out of mind”
Developmental Phenomena:
Object Permanence & Stranger Anxiety

7. Object Permanence Video Clip

10. Piaget’s (1963) Theory (cont’d.)
Pre-operational stage -- ages 2 to 7:
Description of Stage:
operational = logic
Initial stages of using language & applying abstract thought
Not good at reasoning or going through things solely in their heads.

11. Piaget’s Theory (cont.)
Pre-operational Stage (cont.)
Cognitive developmental “struggles” during this stage:
Egocentrism
Animism –personification (trees have feelings)
Artificialism –nature as human-controlled (mtns=someone piled dirt)
Collective monologues
Juice box example

13. Piaget’s Theory (cont.)
conservation
objects or things remain the same, despite changes in appearance
pre-operational children CANNOT conserve
Developmental Phenomena
Pretend Play & Egocentrism
Conservation Video Clip

15. Piaget’s (1963) Theory (cont’d.)
Concrete operational stage -- ages 7 to 11:
Description of Stage:
Thinking logically about concrete events; grasping concrete analogies & performing arithmetical operations
concrete operations:
understanding of “cause-effect”.
concrete logical thought (“seeing is believing”).
conservation is understood at this stage.
Developmental Phenomena:
Conservation & Mathematical transformations

16. Piaget’s (1963) Theory (cont’d.)
Formal operational stage -- ages 11 & up:
Description of stage:
abstract reasoning, logical thought.
able to think through things scientifically, rather than basic trial & error

17. Piaget’s Theory (cont.)
Move beyond absolutist, generalized thought?
i.e. understand things are not just “black & white”
Subjectivity in moral judgement—beginnings of emotional intelligence
Think more about values & goals
Reason through things that are not concrete
Developmental Phenomena
Abstract logic & Potential for mature moral reasoning

18. Evaluation of Piaget’s Theory
Isn’t cognitive development a lifelong process, not one that ends at age 12?
Argument of a 5th stage of cognitive development:
post-formal operational thought or dialectical reasoning (able to synthesize contradictory thoughts, emotions, and experiences) :
 abstract,  absolute,  dynamic and fluid,  “gray”, &  flexible.

19. Evaluation of Piaget’s Theory (cont’d.)
Not all children (or adults) reach the formal operational stage of C.D.
in fact, it’s been argued that only 10% to 20% of all adults operate at a level of cognitive development beyond concrete operational stage (similar to Maslow’s statistic re: love and belongingness).
Order of stages may be reached earlier by some children.
e.g., conservation & emotional IQ can be understood by some pre-op. children.

20. Let’s Review

21. In the concrete operational stage, a child will learn that
there is no connection between the liquid a taller, thinner glass and a fatter, shorter glass may hold
a taller, thinner glass will hold less liquid than a fatter, shorter one
a taller, thinner glass will hold more liquid than a fatter, shorter one
a taller, thinner glass can't hold the same liquid as a fatter, shorter one
a taller, thinner glass can hold the same liquid as a fatter, shorter one

22. 2. A child begins to develop abstract reasoning at the
concrete operational stage
sensorimotor stage
conservation stage
preoperational stage
formal operational stage

23. 3. A game of peek-a-boo entertains newborns because
babies haven't developed object permanence
babies are developing logic
babies like being surprised
babies develop through games
babies understand the parent isn't actually disappearing

24. 4. A child in the preoperational stage
believes others know what they know
believes others are smarter
hasn't yet started to use language
is beginning to develop object permanence
has a finely developed sense of logic

25. Next Time... Developmental Psychology Continued.
Please continue reading Modules 8, 9, 10, & 11...

29. Maslow’s (1970) Hierarchy of Needs
Are formal operations & post-conventional morality contingent upon L. & B.
Self-Actualization
80%-90% never develop beyond Love & Belongingness
Esteem Needs
Love & Belongingness Needs
Natural progression is upward
Safety & Security Needs
Physiological Needs