Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOUGHT - Coggle Diagram
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOUGHT
Piaget's Contributions
Jean Piaget's Significance: Piaget is recognized as a leading figure in the field of cognitive development.
Methodological Approach: Piaget formulated his theories through a combination of direct observation and interaction with children, including his own, as well as the use of conventional intelligence tests.
Emphasis on Natural Settings: Unlike many of his contemporaries who conducted research in laboratory settings, Piaget's approach involved studying children in natural environments, such as their homes or during play.
Innovation: Piaget's methodology was innovative for its time, as it allowed for a more authentic understanding of children's cognitive development by observing them in contexts that reflected their everyday experiences.
Foundation for Further Research: Piaget's approach laid the groundwork for subsequent studies in cognitive development and influenced the direction of research in psychology.
Origins of Piaget's Fascination
Observation of Gerard's Behavior: Piaget's interest in cognitive development was sparked by observing his nephew Gerard's actions during play.
Inability to Understand Object Existence: Piaget noted that Gerard struggled to understand that objects continued to exist when they were out of sight, suggesting a lack of object permanence.
Hypothesis Formation: Based on Gerard's behavior, Piaget hypothesized that young children might have difficulty perceiving objects as separate entities from themselves.
Testing the Hypothesis: Piaget further investigated his hypothesis by observing his daughter Jacqueline's development and her understanding of object permanence.
Progression in Understanding: Through Jacqueline's development, Piaget observed how children gradually acquire the concept of object permanence, noting her progression from initially not understanding to eventually grasping the concept.
Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development:
Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 years old): Infants rely on sensory input to explore and understand their surroundings, with a primary goal of grasping object permanence, essential for naming objects.
Preoperational Stage (2 to 6 years old): Children engage in symbolic play and language development but exhibit egocentrism and struggle with logical thinking.
Concrete Operational Stage (6/7 to 11 years old): Children enhance their logical reasoning abilities, particularly in mathematical contexts, and develop empathy and perspective-taking skills.
Formal Operational Stage (From age 11/12 onwards): Adolescents demonstrate proficiency in abstract and hypothetical thinking, understanding complex concepts like causality. However, they may initially revert to egocentric thought.
Modern Adjustments and Critique
Contemporary child psychologists acknowledge that the ages of Piaget's stages are approximate and recognize variations in developmental rates among children. Despite these adjustments, Piaget's stages and their characteristics remain foundational in the study of cognitive development.