Piaget's Theory of Development

Piaget's Theory of Development

• Piaget's theory outlines four stages of cognitive development, from birth to adolescence.
• These stages are: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
• The progression through these stages is believed to be linked to physical maturation and interaction with the environment.
• Piaget believed that children actively construct their understanding of the world through interaction and adaptation.

Sensorimotor Stage

• This stage spans roughly from birth to approximately two years old.
• Infants learn about their environment through sensory experiences and motor actions.
• Key characteristics of this stage include reflexes, primary circular reactions, secondary circular reactions, coordination of schemes, tertiary circular reactions, and symbolic thought.

Preoperational Stage

• This stage occurs roughly between the ages of 2 and 7 years.
• Children begin to use symbols, language, and pretend play.
• However, thinking is still egocentric and lacks logical reasoning.
• Children have difficulty understanding concepts such as conservation and reversibility.

Concrete Operational Stage

• This stage typically begins around age 7 and extends into adolescence, roughly ages 7 to 11.
• Children develop logical reasoning skills about concrete objects and events, but abstract concepts are still challenging.
• Conservation and reversibility are better understood during this phase.

Formal Operational Stage

• This stage begins in adolescence and continues into adulthood roughly ages 11 or 12 onwards.
• Individuals develop the ability to think abstractly and hypothetically.
• They can reason about possibilities and use deductive logic.

Stage Transitions

• Piaget believed that a child must reach a certain level of physical maturation before advancing to the next stage.
• The child must experience relevant experiences to assimilate or accommodate a new concept.
• Stages proceed and overlap one another.