Jean Piaget

Jean Piaget

A developmental psychologist known for his theory of cognitive development in children.

Cognitive Development

The process by which children develop thinking, judgment, and knowledge.

Schemas

Units of knowledge organized in a specific way that are the building blocks of knowledge.

Assimilation

Incorporating new experiences into existing schemas.

Accommodation

Creating a new schema when encountering information that cannot fit into existing schemas.

Equilibration

A state when cognitive development makes sense and is balanced between assimilation and accommodation.

Sensorimotor Stage

The first stage of Piaget's cognitive development (0-2 years), where children learn through their senses and actions.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, developing around 9 months.

Preoperational Stage

The second stage of Piaget's cognitive development (2-7 years), characterized by the use of language and symbolic thinking but lacking understanding of conservation.

Concrete Operational Stage

The third stage of Piaget's cognitive development (7-11 years), where children develop logical thinking about concrete events.

Formal Operational Stage

The fourth stage of Piaget's cognitive development (12+ years), marked by abstract thinking and problem solving.

Egocentrism

The inability of a child to view a situation from another person's perspective, present in the preoperational stage.

Discovery Learning

An educational approach emphasizing exploration and a hands-on experience as the means for learning.

Constructivism

The theory that children actively construct knowledge through experiences and interactions.

Vygotsky's Theory

A contrasting theory to Piaget that emphasizes the role of social interaction and culture in cognitive development.

Neo-Piagetists

Researchers who build on Piaget's theory, focusing on the role of social interactions and cultural context in cognitive development.