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What does Piaget's theory focus on?

Lucas Martinez | 2023-06-09 20:28:26 | page views:1745
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Isabella Hall

Studied at the University of Amsterdam, Lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Jean Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory is a comprehensive framework that focuses on the way children understand and make sense of the world around them. Piaget believed that children are not passive recipients of information but are active participants in the learning process. They construct their knowledge of the world by interacting with their environment and by organizing and reorganizing their experiences into new cognitive structures.

Piaget's theory is centered around four main stages of cognitive development, each characterized by distinct cognitive abilities and ways of thinking. These stages are:


1. Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 years): During this stage, infants learn about the world through their senses and motor movements. They begin to understand the concept of object permanence, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible.


2. Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 years): Children in this stage start to use symbols, such as words and images, to represent objects and events. However, their thinking is still largely egocentric, meaning they have difficulty taking the perspective of others.


3. Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 years): This is the stage mentioned in the provided content. Children begin to think logically about concrete events and problems. They can perform operations mentally without the need for physical manipulation. They also start to understand conservation, which is the idea that certain properties of an object remain constant even when its appearance changes.


4. Formal Operational Stage (11 years and older): Adolescents in this stage are capable of abstract thinking and can consider hypothetical scenarios. They can think about possibilities and consequences without needing to test them in the real world.

Piaget also introduced the concept of schema, which are mental frameworks that help individuals understand and react to experiences. As children interact with the world, they assimilate new information into existing schemas or accommodate their schemas to fit new information.

Another key aspect of Piaget's theory is the process of equilibration, which is the balance between assimilation and accommodation. Children strive for cognitive equilibrium and are motivated to resolve any cognitive disequilibrium they encounter.

Piaget's work has had a profound impact on educational theory and practice. It has led to an emphasis on the importance of active learning and the need for educational environments that are responsive to the developmental stages of children.

While Piaget's theory has been influential, it is not without its critics. Some argue that his stages are too rigid and do not account for individual differences or the influence of culture on cognitive development. Others point out that children may be capable of more advanced cognitive tasks than Piaget proposed.

In conclusion, Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory provides a foundational understanding of how children's cognitive abilities evolve over time. It emphasizes the active role children play in constructing their knowledge of the world and has shaped our approach to education and child development.


2024-05-11 21:22:33

Benjamin Adams

Works at Amazon, Lives in Seattle. Graduated from University of Washington with a degree in Business Administration.
Jean Piaget developed his cognitive -developmental theory based on the idea that children actively construct knowledge as they explore and manipulate the world around them. ... The concrete operational stage occurs from age 7 to age 11 and is characterized by the idea that children's reasoning becomes focused and logical.
2023-06-14 20:28:26

Benjamin Brown

QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Jean Piaget developed his cognitive -developmental theory based on the idea that children actively construct knowledge as they explore and manipulate the world around them. ... The concrete operational stage occurs from age 7 to age 11 and is characterized by the idea that children's reasoning becomes focused and logical.
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