Piaget – How Children Think & Stages of Cognitive Development: Flashcards
Who is Jean Piaget?
A psychologist known for his theory on how children think and develop cognitively.
What did Piaget believe about children’s thinking?
That children think differently from adults and go through distinct stages of cognitive development.
What is conservation according to Piaget?
The understanding that the quantity of something remains the same even when its appearance changes.
At what age do children typically develop the ability to conserve?
Around 7
What is egocentrism according to Piaget?
The inability of children to see a situation from someone else’s perspective.
What age group did Piaget find to be egocentric?
Children under 7 years old.
What is Piaget’s schema development theory?
A theory that children build knowledge through experiences, creating schemas (mental frameworks) to understand the world.
What are the four stages of Piaget’s cognitive development theory?
- Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years): The child learns through physical interaction with the environment.
- Preoperational Stage (2-7 years): The child begins to use language and develop imagination but remains egocentric.
- Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years): The child develops logical thinking and the ability to conserve.
- Formal Operational Stage (11+ years): The child develops abstract and hypothetical thinking.
What is assimilation in Piaget’s theory?
The process of incorporating new experiences into existing schemas.
What is accommodation in Piaget’s theory?
The process of changing existing schemas or creating new ones to deal with new information.
What are some criticisms of Piaget’s theory?
• He underestimated children’s abilities.
• His stages are not as rigid as he suggested.
• Children may develop some skills earlier than his theory proposes.
