Piaget Cognitive Stages

Question 1

Sensorimotor

Answer 1

Age: Birth-2 yrs (Infancy)
Main achievement during this stage is object permanence- knowing that an object still exists, even if it is hidden; this requires the ability to form mental representations (schemas) of object; differentiation of self from objects

Question 2

Preconceptual

Answer 2

Age: 1.5-3 yrs (Toddler)

• ego centered/self centered thinking
• explorative
• language develops rapidly
• associates words with objects

Question 3

Preoperational

Answer 3

Age: 3-6 yrs (Preschool)

Egocentric thinking diminishes; repeats words, may count to 10; words express thoughts

Question 4

Concrete Operation

Answer 4

Age: 7-11 yrs (Middle Childhood)
More logic develops; Solves concrete problems, begins to understand relationships, aware of viewpoints, can distinguish facts from fantasy, classification of objects, spatial thought, etc.

Question 5

Formal Operation

Answer 5

Age: 12-18 yrs (Adolescence)
Uses abstract, rational thinking; reasoning is deductive and futuristic; not all reach this stage of formal operational thought