Jean Piaget: Theories of Cognitive Development
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Jean Piaget: Theories of Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget (1896-1980) was a Swiss developmental psychologist who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the field of child psychology. He is best known for his theory of cognitive development, which proposes that children progress through four distinct stages as they grow and learn. Piaget's work has had a profound influence on our understanding of how children think and learn, and his theories are still widely discussed in education and child development today.
Piaget's theory of “genetic epistemology” elaborates upon the idea that children actively construct their own knowledge of the world on top of hereditary cognitive structures. He believed that children learn through two main processes: assimilation and accommodation. (Assimilation is the process of incorporating new information into existing knowledge structures. Accommodation is the process of adjusting existing knowledge structures to fit new information.) Piaget proposed that children progress through four distinct stages of cognitive development:
- Sensorimotor stage (birth to age 2)
- Preoperational stage (ages 2-7)
- Concrete operational stage (ages 7-11)
- Formal operational stage (ages 11 and beyond
Piaget’s work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of child development despite weathering a number of criticisms (including methodological concerns emerging from the fact that his own children served as subjects of his clinical observations!). Piaget’s lasting influence can be observed in constructivist classrooms, approaches to inquiry-based learning, and developmental assessments.
Sources & Resources:
The Economist - Rule by law, with Chinese characteristics
The Economist - Why does Xi Jinping want patriotic education to be written into law?
NBC4i - Gov. Mike DeWine’s ‘science of reading’ mandate under attack in court by: Sarah Szilagy
Berkeley Graduate Division - Cognitive Constructivism
Association for Psychological Science - The Enduring Influence of Jean Piaget by: J. Roy Hopkins
Epistemology: The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Britannica Article: Jean Piaget
Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development (graphic), by Jennifer S. Groff
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