Jean Piaget’s Theory of

Cognitive Development

Born: Aug 9, 1896

Birthplace: Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Died: September 17, 1980

Location of death: Geneva, Switzerland

Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male

Race or Ethnicity: White

Occupation: Psychologist

Nationality: Switzerland

Executive summary: Elaborated the stages of childhood

Cognitive development refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and gains understanding

of his or her world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors. Among the

areas of cognitive development are information processing, intelligence, reasoning,

language development, and memory.

Cognitive Stages of Development

Sensorimotor (0-2

years)

Development proceeds from reflex activity to representation

and sensorimotor solutions to problems

Pre-operational (2-7

years)

Problems solved through representation; language

development; (2-4 years); thoughts and language both

egocentric; cannot solve conservation problems.

Concrete Operation

(7-11 years)

Reversibility attained; can solve conservation problems; Logical

operation developed and applied to concrete problems; cannot

solve complex verbal problems.

Formal Operation (11

years-adulthood)

Logically solves all types of problems; thinks scientifically; solves

complex problems; cognitive structures mature.

Sensorimotor stage (infancy): In this period, which has six sub-stages, intelligence is demonstrated through motor activity without the use of symbols. Knowledge of the world is limited, but developing, because it is based on physical interactions and experiences. Children acquire object permanence at about seven months of age (memory). Physical development (mobility) allows the child to begin developing new intellectual abilities. Some symbolic (language) abilities are developed at the end of this stage.

Pre-operational stage (toddlerhood and early childhood): In this period, which has two sub stages, intelligence is demonstrated through the use of symbols, language use matures, and memory and imagination are developed, but thinking is done in a non-logical, non-reversible manner. Egocentric thinking predominates.

Concrete operational stage (elementary and early adolescence): In this stage, characterized by seven types of conservation (number, length, liquid, mass, weight, area, and volume), intelligence is demonstrated through logical and systematic manipulation of symbols related to concrete objects. Operational thinking develops (mental actions that are reversible). Egocentric thought diminishes.

Formal operational stage (adolescence and adulthood): In this stage, intelligence is demonstrated through the logical use of symbols related to abstract concepts. Early in the period there is a return to egocentric thought. Only 35 percent of high school graduates in industrialized countries obtain formal operations; many people do not think formally during adulthood.

References:

Dizon,. General Psychology. Manila: Rex Bookstore, 2003

Uriarte, Gabriel G. General Psychology. Manila, 2007

http://www.answers.com/Cognitive%20Development