In-Depth Notes on Piaget and Vygotsky's Theories of Cognitive Development

sensorimotor age

0-2

what develops in this phase

• Sensory development is central to this phase

• reflexes under control and learns to respond motorically to the environment.

• By the end of this phase, the child fully understands object permanence.

pre-operational age

2-7 years

pre-operational developments

• The child is able to show intuitive problem-solving in this phase.

• It is divided into two phases: symbolic function (mentally represent an object thats not present) and the intuitive thought substage (asking “why”)

concrete operational phase age

7-11

concrete operational developments

• The ability to use logical reasoning is central to this phase.

• The child is able to understand the concept of conservation.

formal operational age

11+

formal operational developments

The child is capable of abstract thinking and mental hypothesis testing.

when is the first sign of symbolic problem-solving

18-24 months, the last substage of sensorimotor

key terms pre-operational stage

• dual representation

• symbolic function substage (mentally represent non-present object)

• intuitive thought substage (asking why questions)

concrete operational phase key terms

• cognitive maps

• horizontal deceleration

• mental seriation

• transivitiy (if A>B, B>C, then A>C)