ASSIGHNMENT

PIAGETS COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT THEORY

Submitted to:
Ms. Halima Sadya
Submitted by:
Hiba Shafqat
Enrollment #:
01-171162-007
Subject:
Psychology of Life Span

DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD
INTRODUCTION

Piaget gave the theory of cognitive development in 1936. Piaget studied about how every
child learns from the environment around him and how he develops new knowledge based on
the present experiences and past ideas. He denied the fact that intelligence/knowledge is fixed
he argued that knowledge and intelligence develop over time in certain various stages
throughout the life of an individual.

Piagets theory differed from other theories in several ways, for example his theory focused
the children and their development rather than targeting other ages and intelligence. He gave
discrete stages then gradual growing concepts of development.

Three basic components of piagets theory are schemas (Building blocks of knowledge),
Adaptation process (Assimilation, Accommodation, and equilibrium) and stages of cognitive
development (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational).

ADAPTATION PROCESS

As Piaget saw the process of development as the process of adapting to the environment and
surroundings. He gave the following processes of adaptation given below.

ASSIMILATION

Using the existing schema to learn a new concept or deal with the new situation.

ACCOMODATION

When the already existing Schema is invalid for the situation and new idea or schema needs
to be generated.

EQUILIBRIUM

It is the balancing as well as the force to learn new knowledge as when a person has
assimilated using the existing schemas and disequilibrium is faced when a new and
unexpected situation is encountered then equilibrium drives the need to Accommodate new
schemas and concepts.

STAGES OF PIAGETS COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT THEROY

Piaget proposed 4 stages of development namely,

 Sensorimotor (birth - age 2)

  Preoperational (age 2 – age 7)
 Concrete operational (age 7 – age 11)
 Formal operational (age 11 – adolescence and adulthood)

All the children go through the same stages in the same order although he didn’t specified
each age with each stage rather he said the rate of reaching each stage may differ among each
individual and this may cause some individuals to never attain the later stages in life.

SENSORIMOTOR (BIRTH - AGE 2)

The main achievement of this stage is OBJECT PERMANENCE. The child gets to discover
that the objects are permanent even if it is hidden or taken away from the sight. At this stage
children gets knowledge through their basic reflexes, senses, and motor responses. They learn
and grow by interacting with the environment. At this stage, the children learn to walk and
get language as well.

PREOPERATIONAL (AGE 2 – AGE 7)

SYMBOLIC THINKING and ability to make one thing is acquired in this stage. But they still
have difficulty in understanding others point of view it means they are still egocentric. In this
stage they are getting better at getting language and thinking style but still have concrete
thinking terms. This stage helped the children learn more of what was previously acquired by
pretend play, but they still struggle with logic. Ideas of constancy are often hard to
understand such as they might think that the shape of water changes if it poured in something
else. Hence in this stage although they learn more but still have difficulty with constancy,
logic, understanding others view and egocentricism.

CONCRETE OPERATIONAL (AGE 7 – AGE 11)

Main changing point of child’s development where the logical and operational thought
begins. Concept of conservation is understood, thinking becomes more logical, organized but
concrete. The children start using logic and become better at thinking and solving problems
in their heads then needing a physical help to solve problem. The egocentricism is reduced
and they start to understand other people’s point of view and beginning to know how others
may feel or think. In this stage the children start to recognize that their thoughts belong to
them and are unique and not everyone has to conform with their thoughts.
 FORMAL OPERATIONAL (AGE 11 – ADOLESCENCE AND ADULTHOOD)

The stage when ability to think Abstract ideas, concepts and logically test hypothesis
develops. Thoughts about moral, philosophical, ethical, and social issues appear. The logic
increases, they start thinking about multiple potential solutions and think more scientifically
about the world. At this stage, the child starts to reason about hypothetical situations and plan
for future and critical thinking is developed.
REFRENCES

 https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html
 https://www.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-2795457