"Theory of Cognitive Development" by Jean Piaget

Cognitive Development Theory

Piaget is best known for this theory. Piaget believed that human development/behavior were the product of certain consistent and reliable patterns of interaction with the environment called Schemas

Schemas

are goal oriented strategies that ind. use to explore the environment and learn more about the world. all ind. are born with schemas through which they perceive the environment.

Adaptation

A reciprocal exchange between an individual and his environment. According to Piaget a child learns through a process called adaptation.

4 stages of Cognitive Development

Stage 1 Sensorimotor

Stage 2 Pre-Operational

Sage 3 Concrete-Operational

Stage 4 Formal Operational

Stage 1-Sensorimotor

Birth to 2 years

Infant uses his senses and motor functions to understand the world. (sucks his thumbs realizes it feels good keep sucking)

Key accomplishment is object performance (objects exist even when out of sight) child may imitate someone or something when no longer there.

Stage 2- Pre-Operational

2-7 years

Child begins to use symbols, language and to speak. Child also gains understanding of past and present. (child says doll gets lonely if not played with)

Stage 3- Concrete Operational

7-11

Child is capable of mental operations. Child learns to manipulate symbols (a child knows that if you have 4 balls in a horizontal row and you then move the balls further apart from each other, there are still only 4 balls).

Stage 4- Formal Operational

11-15 years

During this stage the child learns more adult like thinking. Child transfers his use of logical operations from concrete thinking to abstract thinking. his is called "Hypothetical thinking".

Assimilation

The incorporation of an aspect of ones environment into an existing mental organization (schema) ex. a child knows how to grab a rattle and place it in his mouth. The client assimilates a new object (pen) into the old "grab a rattle" schema.

Accomendation

The adaptation or modification of an existing mental organization or though (schema) to the characteristics of a new object. ex. child grabs a beach ball and attempts to assimilate it into the "grab-a-rattle" schema. This obviously will be unsuccessful, so the child will adapt to the new object.