Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Piaget’s stages of cognitive development are a model of psychological development that Jean Piaget first proposed in the late 1920s. The model assumes that children go through a series of stages as they learn and develop their cognitive abilities.
The Piaget model comprises four stages: the sensorimotor stage, the pre-operational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the formal operational stage. Different thinking abilities and levels of knowledge characterize each stage.
The sensorimotor stage is the earliest stage of development and is characterized by children’s reliance on their senses to understand their world. Children in the sensorimotor stage are very literal and don’t understand abstract concepts yet. They are also very selfish and focused on their own experiences.
The pre-operational stage is the second stage of development and is marked by children’s increasing use of abstract concepts. They also develop their understanding of the world and are less influenced by others. However, they are still very selfish and don’t understand the consequences of their actions.
The concrete operational stage is the third stage of development and is marked by children’s ability to abstract and understand complex concepts. They are also able to plan and perform complex tasks. However, they are still very selfish and don’t understand the consequences of their actions.
The formal operational stage is the fourth and final stage of development and is marked by children’s ability to think critically and problem-solve. They are also able to communicate and socialize.