Cognitive & Moral

Jean Piaget – A psychologist known for his theory of cognitive development in children.

Sensorimotor Stage – The stage (birth-2 years) where infants learn through sensory experiences and actions.

Object Permanence – Understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen.

Baby Mathematics – Infants’ ability to show rudimentary understanding of numbers.

Preoperational Stage – The stage (2-7 years) where children use language but lack logical reasoning.

Egocentric – Difficulty seeing things from another person’s perspective.

Pretend Play – Engaging in imaginative and symbolic play.

Concrete Operational Stage – The stage (7-11 years) where children develop logical thinking about concrete events.

Conservation – Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance.

Formal Operational Stage – The stage (12+ years) where abstract reasoning and logical thought develop.

Schemas – Mental frameworks used to organize and interpret information.

Metacognition – Awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes.

Assimilation – Integrating new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation – Modifying schemas to fit new information.

Lawrence Kohlberg – A psychologist known for his theory of moral development.

Pre-Conventional Morality – Moral reasoning based on avoiding punishment or seeking rewards.

Conventional Morality – Moral reasoning based on social norms and laws.

Post-Conventional Morality – Moral reasoning based on personal ethical principles.

Criticisms of Kohlberg – Focuses on Western, male perspectives and overlooks cultural and gender differences.