Piaget (stages of development)

Question 1

sensorimotor stage (0-2)

first months
three months
eight months

Answer 1

infants learn/explore through senses and motor activities

first month - sensory and motor skills are not coordinated

three months - begin to integrate sensorimotor info

eight months - crawling, object permanence, involved goal directed behaviour

Question 2

pre-operational stage (2-7)

symbolic thinking

egocentrism

animism

reversibility

Answer 2

the end of infancy, involves gaining speech

symbolic thinking - mentally representing objects/experiences using imagination

egocentrism - unable to see other perspectives (not bad)

animism - belief that if something exists that it has consciousness - linked to egocentrism

reversibility - ability to recognise that something can return to its original form

Question 3

concrete operational stage (7-12)

conservation

classification

Answer 3

capable of true logical thought, accurately predicting outcomes and consequences for concrete things

conservation - properties of an object remit the same but only appearance changes (water)

classification - organise similar objects into categories

Question 4

formal operational stage (12+)

abstract thinking

deductive reasoning

idealistic thinking

Answer 4

complex thought along maturation

abstract thinking - thought that does not rely on visuals to understand

deductive reasoning - logical rules to draw conclusions

idealistic thinking - thinking about desirable characteristics (about self and others)

Question 5

criticisms of Piaget’s theory

Answer 5

overestimates a child’s abilities

small number of participants

kids are capable of concrete thinking/tasks at younger ages