Piaget’s Essay Essays Examples

1st Paragraph

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development posits that after birth, an infant adapts the world through assimilation and accommodation.
This theory hypothesizes that a child takes in information and materials from the surrounding environment. This usually alters the mind making it healthy.
This theory has four stages of development namely sensory –motor stage, preoperational stage, stage of concrete operation, and stage of formal operations. According to him this is witnessed from birth to the second year after birth.

During the first stage, there is a dramatic development of reflexes and motor capabilities.

In addition, what is usually observed after involuntary motion is completely developed is intelligence.
One developmental task during this stage is objective performance.
This can be defined as an occurrence when an infant makes efforts to reach a toy or even suck on the nipple without her mother’s guide.
Also, the child distinguishes him or herself from objects. Additionally, at this stage the infant attains object permanence.

At this point, the child does not recognize that any other object can exist, but only him or herself.

2nd Paragraph
During the second phase, Preoperational Stage, the infant is not yet rational and,therefore, cannot make logical decisions.
In addition, he or she thinks her or his thoughts or decision is the best and,therefore, cannot take view point of other. This stage takes place from the age of two to seven.

One developmental task during this stage is that, the child gains some communication skills and always curious about new things.

Also, he or she can view objects in terms of images and words.
Additionally, during this stage, the child is able to categorize objects with a particular characteristic.
For instance, classifying brown despite its shapes or putting rectangular blocks together despite the color.
At this point, the child’s way of thinking is completely from that of an adult.
3rd Paragraph
During the third stage, the stage of Concrete Operation is that moment when a child initiates mental operations.
In addition, this usually takes place between ages seven and eleven.
One developmental task during this stage is that the child at this stage is rational and is able to think logically concerning objects and actions.

Mental activity is defined as internal actions or activities taking place in the mind.

Additionally, the child is able to count from one to ten. Another significant feature at this stage is reversibility capability. This is the ability of the child to reverse his or her mind.
For instance, he or she is curious about age, mass or weight. Additionally, the child is able to categorize materials based on various traits and put them in a particular sequence such as size. At this stage the child is able to reserve and conserve various issues and also is able to make logical decisions.
For instance, what he or she can add can also be subtracted. As a result, at this stage the child make logic decisions, reverse his thoughts and lastly is conservative.

4th Paragraph

During the fourth stage, the stage of formal operation, the child is able to make rational and logical conclusion on different problems.

In addition, this takes place at the age of 11 year and above.

One developmental task during this stage is a beginning conceptual and logical thinking. This commonly overlaps with adolescent stage. At this stage, a child is much worried about theoretical and anticipated challenges.
It is defined as stage where the child is in a position to make rational and logical conclusions. Additionally, the child is able to think about intangible issues such as space and time.
Also, he or she now has an inner system and commonsense on moral conclusions. The way of thinking at this stage is much logical, organized and flexible

For instance he or she is able to find out the best course of action to a particular problem.

As a result, at this stage, the child can logically think and reason on current problem and future difficulties, and he or she has developed required mental tools for survival.