JPiaget’s Theory of

Cognitive Development

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Jean Piaget• Proposed the four stages of cognitive development. •Believed that children are like "little scientists”

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SchemaCognitive structures by which individuals intellectually adapt toand organize their environment

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AssimilationThe process of fittinga new experienceinto an existing orpreviously createdcognitive structureor schema.

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AccommodationThe process

of creating a new schema

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StagesOf

Cognitive Developme

nt

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Sensorimotor StageDuring this stage, infants and toddlers acquire knowledge through sensory experiences and manipulating objects. (Birth to 2 years old) 

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Object PermanenceObject permanence is a child's understanding that objects continue to exist even though they cannot be seen or heard.

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SubstagesOf

Sensorimotor

Stage

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ReflexesReflexes are involuntary actions the baby makes, which in time (about 3 months later), will be replaced by conscious movements.

REFLEX STIMULATION & RESPONSE

DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE

Babinski Stroke infant’s foot from toe to heel: toss fan out and foot twists in.

Disappears by about 1 year

Startle Newborn abducts and flexes all extremities and may begin to cry when exposed to sudden movement or loud noise.

Disappears by 3 to 6 months

Palmar Grasp

Press a finger against the infant’s palm; infant grasps tightly.

Weakens after a few hours and fades completely after 3 to 4 months.

REFLEX STIMULATION & RESPONSE

DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE

Rooting Newborns turns head in direction of stimulus, opens mouth, and begins to suck when cheek, lip, or corner of mouth is touched with finger or nipple (breast feed).

Usually disappears by 3 to 4 months.

Stepping Hold infant upright and place bare feet on a surface: infant lifts one foot, then the other.

Seems to disappear at 1 to 3 months, when body weight begins to exceed strength, then reappears between 11 and 16 months.

REFLEX STIMULATION & RESPONSE

DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE

Sucking Put finger in infant’s mouth; infant sucks

Strongest in the first 3 to 5 months but continues throughout infancy.

Tonic Neck

Put infant on back; infant assumes “fencing” pose with fists, one arm extended, and head turned to one side.

Disappear at 4 months

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Primary CircularReactions

(1 – 4 months) This substage involves coordinating sensation and new schemas. 

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Secondary CircularReactions

(4 – 8 months) During this substage, the child becomes more focused on the world and begins to intentionally repeat an action in order to trigger a response in the environment.  

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Coordination of Reactions

Children begin exploring the environment around them and will often imitate the observed behavior of others.

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Tertiary CircularReactions

(12 – 18 months) Children begin a period of trial-and-error experimentation during the fifth substage.  

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Early Representational Thought

Children begin to develop symbols to represent events or objects in the world.  

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Pre-operational Stage

At this stage, the child can now make mentalrepresentations and is able to pretend. The child is now even closer to use symbols. Lasts approximately 2 to 7 years old.  

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Pre-operational Stage

Symbolic Function

Ability to represent objects and events.

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Pre-operational Stage

Egocentrism

This is the tendency of the child to only see his

point of view.

I am always right! I don’t need your

opinion!

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Pre-operational Stage

Centration

Tendency of the child to only focus on one aspect

of a thing or an event and exclude other aspects.

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Pre-operational Stage

Reversibility

Children in this stage has the inability to reverse

their thinking.2 + 3 = 55 – 3 = 2

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Pre-operational Stage

Animism

Tendency of children to attribute human like

traits or characteristics to inanimate objects.

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Concrete Operational Stage

Ability of the child to think logically but only

in terms of concrete objects.

(Ages 8-11) 

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Concrete Operational Stage

Decentering

Ability of the child to perceive the different

features of objects and situations.

 

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Concrete Operational Stage

Reversibility

During this stage, the child can now follow

that certain operations can be done in reverse.

 

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Concrete Operational Stage

Conservation

Ability to know that certain properties do not change even if there is a change in appearance.

 

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Concrete Operational Stage

Seriation

Ability to order or arrange things in a series based on

one dimension such as weight, volume or size.

 

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Formal Operational Stage

(Ages 12-15 years old) Thinking becomes more

logical. They can now solve abstract problems

and can hypothesize.

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Formal Operational Stage

Hypothetical Reasoning

Ability to come up with different hypothesis about a problem and to gather and

weigh data in order to make a final decision or judgment.

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Formal Operational Stage

Analogical Reasoning

Ability to perceive the relationship in one instance

and then use that relationship to narrow down possible

answers.

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Formal Operational Stage

Deductive Reasoning

Ability to think logically by applying a general rule to a

particular instance or situation.

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