Theories of Human Development:

Theory of Cognitive
Development
by:
JEAN PIAGET
Swiss Psychologist
(1896 - 1980)
RECAP

3
REVIEW:
According to Erikson, the primary challenge in
late adulthood is:
a. Industry vs. inferiority
b. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
c. Integrity vs. despair
d. Identity vs. role confusion
REVIEW:
Which psychosocial crisis involves developing a
sense of trust in others, particularly caregivers,
during infancy?
a. Trust vs. mistrust
b. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
c. Initiative vs. guilt
d. Industry vs. inferiority
REVIEW:
During the autonomy vs. shame and
doubt stage, toddlers are learning to:
a. Develop a strong sense of self-identity.
b. Form close friendships with peers.
c. Gain control over their bodies and actions.
d. Achieve academic success.
REVIEW:
In Erikson's psychosocial theory, the
resolution of the initiative vs. guilt
stage involves:
a. Developing a strong work ethic.
b. Exploring and taking inventiveness in various
activities.
c. Establishing a stable personal identity.
d. Learning to form intimate relationships.
REVIEW:
The primary virtue associated with
the integrity vs. despair stage in
Erikson's theory is:
a. Wisdom
b. Autonomy
c. Competence
d. Trust
REVIEW:
Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory emphasizes
the importance of:
a. Resolving unconscious conflicts.
b. Nurturing cognitive development.
c. Building strong ego defenses.
d. Balancing social and emotional needs.
REVIEW:
In Erikson's theory, the primary conflict
during infancy is:
a. Trust vs. mistrust
b. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
c. Initiative vs. guilt
d. Industry vs. inferiority
REVIEW:
According to Erikson, successful resolution of
the identity vs. role confusion stage results
in:
a. A strong sense of autonomy.
b. A clear sense of one's identity.
c. A focus on industry and achievement.
d. A strong moral conscience.
REVIEW:
Which stage in Erikson's theory occurs
during adolescence and is characterized by
the search for personal identity?
a. Trust vs. mistrust
b. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
c. Identity vs. role confusion
d. Generativity vs. stagnation
REVIEW:
Erikson's theory posits that during the
generativity vs. stagnation stage, adults
seek to:
a. Establish a stable career.
b. Develop a sense of personal identity.
c. Make meaningful contributions to society.
d. Achieve intimacy in their relationships.
REVIEW: Provide a short and concise answer with some relevant examples for
clarification. Answer each question in full sentences. (5 points each)

1. Imagine a baby whose caregiver consistently responds to their needs versus a baby
whose caregiver is inconsistent or neglectful. How might these early experiences
influence the development of trust or mistrust?

2. Describe a situation where a toddler's desire for independence clashes with a

caregiver's need for safety and control. How can parents strike a balance to
encourage healthy autonomy without inducing shame or doubt?

3. Consider a scenario in which a child takes the initiative to organize a game with
friends but faces criticism and reprimand from adults. How might this experience
impact the child's sense of initiative and guilt?

4. Discuss a classroom situation where a student is struggling academically and socially,

leading to feelings of inferiority. How can teachers and peers support this child's
development of industry and competence?
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2017. All rights reserved. 14
REVIEW: Provide a short and concise answer with some relevant examples for
clarification. Answer each question in full sentences. (5 points each)
5. Imagine a teenager who is exploring their identity and facing societal pressures to
conform to certain roles or expectations. How can they navigate this stage without
succumbing to role confusion?

6. Describe a relationship scenario where an individual is hesitant to commit due to fear

of losing their independence. How can they balance the need for intimacy with
personal autonomy?

7. Consider a person in midlife who is experiencing a sense of stagnation and

dissatisfaction with their life's direction. How might they work toward generativity and
a sense of purpose?

8. Discuss the experiences of an elderly individual who is reflecting on their life and
grappling with regrets and missed opportunities. How can they achieve a sense of
integrity and acceptance in late adulthood?
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2017. All rights reserved. 15
 Theories of Human Development:
Theory of Cognitive
Development
by:
JEAN PIAGET
Swiss Psychologist
(1896 - 1980)
CONTENT OUTLINE:
1. Introduction to Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
I. Description
II. Summary in Table of Stages of Cognitive Development
2. The Stages of Cognitive Development
I. Sensorimotor Stage
II. Preoperational Stage
III. Concrete Operational Stage
IV. Formal Operational Stage
3. Important Events and Key Behaviors of Children in each Stage
4. Basic Cognitive Concepts
5. Criticisms
6. Implications to Teaching-Learning Process
Piaget (1896 - 1980)
• Swiss Psychologist, worked for
several decades on understanding
children’s cognitive development.

• Was intrigued by kids’ thoughts &

behavior, & worked to understand
their cognitive development
THEORY OF COGNITIVE
DEVELOPMENT
What is Cognition?
❑ The term cognition is derived from the
latin word "cognoscere" which means
"to know" or "to recognise" or "to
conceptualise".
❑ Cognition is "the mental action or
process of acquiring knowledge and
understanding through thought,
experience, and the senses."
What is Cognition?
❑ refers to thinking and memory processes, and
cognitive development refers to long-term changes
in these processes (Seifert, K. and Sutton, R. n.d.)

❑ Virtually everything we do involves thinking or

cognitive functioning:
➢ Recalling a phone number
➢ Remembering a list
➢ Following directions
➢ Reading your watch (how much time until…?)
What is Cognitive Development?
❑ Cognitive Development is the emergence of the ability to
think and understand.
❑ The acquisition of the ability to think, reason and problem
solve.
❑ It is the process by which people's thinking changes across
the life span.
❑ Piaget studied Cognitive Development by observing children in
particular, to examine how their thought processes changed
with age.
❑ It is the growing apprehension and adaptation to the physical
and social environment.
The Stages of Development of Children’s Ability to Think
STAGE 1: SENSORIMOTOR STAGE
(BIRTH-2 YEARS)
Babies are stuck in the HERE
AND NOW world they “know the
world only in terms of their own
sensory input (what they see, smell,
taste, touch, and hear) and their
physical or motor actions on it
(e.g., sucking, reaching, grasping)
STAGE 1: SENSORIMOTOR STAGE
(BIRTH-2 YEARS)

❑ Infants construct an understanding of the world by

coordinating sensory experiences (seeing,
hearing) with motor actions (reaching, touching).
❑ Develop Object Permanence (memory) - Realize
that objects exist even if they are out of sight.
Sensorimotor Stage
• Birth to about 2 years, rapid change is seen
throughout
• The child will:
–Explore the world through senses & motor activity
–Early on, baby can’t tell difference between
themselves & the environment
–If they can’t see something, then it doesn’t exist
–Begin to understand cause & effect
–Can later follow something with their eyes
 The Preoperational Stage
• From approximately 2 to 7 years
• Children use symbols but are many errors in
thinking
>Egocentrism: The inability to distinguish between
one’s own perspective and someone else’s
perspective.
>Confuse appearance and reality
Piaget’s Three-Mountain Task
Three Mountains Problem: Egocentrism
Preoperational Stage
–Better speech communication
–Can imagine the future & reflect on the past
–Develop basic numerical abilities
–Still egocentric, but learning to be able to delay
gratification
–Can’t understand conservation of matter
–Has difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality
(ex: cartoon characters are real people).
 Piaget’s Conservation Task

Two identical beakers shown to Child is asked if (A) and (C) have the same
child, and then experimenter pours amount of liquid. The preoperational child
liquid from (B) into (C) says “no” and will point to (C) as having
more liquid than (A).
Conservation Tasks
41
SYMBOLS IN PLAY
 Symbolic Play:
use one object to
stand for another
Can you hear me
 Fantasy Play: now?
pretend to be something, or Rock a-
UP, UP, AND
by Baby
pretend activities that are AWAY
impossible

 Make-believe play:
use toys as props
ANIMISM
~ Childrens’
belief that their
toys are alive
and have
human
qualities.
44
45
The Concrete Operational Stage

• From approximately 7 to 11 years

• Thinking based on mental operations (strategies
and rules that make thinking more systematic
and powerful)
• Operations can be reversed
• Focus on the real and concrete, not the abstract
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
Educational Implications
• Emphasis on discovery approach in learning.

• Curriculum should provide specific educational experience based

on children's developmental level.
• Arrange classroom activities so that they assist and encourage self
learning.

• Social interactions have a great educational value for Piaget.

Positive social actions, therefore, should be encouraged.

• Instruction should be geared to the level of the child. As the level of

the child changes at each stage, the level of instruction or
exploratory activities should also change.
Contribution to Education
• Piaget's theory helped educators, parents and investigators to
comprehend the capacity of children in their different stages.

• He made us conscious with the way children and adults think.

• A lot of school programs have been redesigned taking as base

Piaget's discoveries.

• Piaget made a revolution with the developmental psychology

concentrating all his attention to the mental process and his role
with behavior.
His clinical method lacked sufficient scientific
control.
Much of his work was conducted with his own
children as subjects.
His examination of cognitive change did not have a
lifespan orientation.

He may have underestimated children’s capabilities.

He did not discern well between competency
and performance.
He placed too little emphasis on the influence
of motivation and emotions.
His stages of development were too broad.
He described but did not clearly explain
development.
After the discussion about Piaget’s
stages of development, and the
criticisms of the theory, what are your
thoughts?
Does the theory make sense? Is it
logical?
 Questions
and
Clarifications ?
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2017. All rights reserved. 57
QUIZ #5:

1. Sarah is a 7-year-old child who is in the preoperational

stage of cognitive development according to Piaget's
theory. She is given two identical glasses filled with
juice. She pours the juice from one glass into a taller
and narrower glass. Sarah looks at the glasses and
exclaims, "Now, the tall glass has more juice!“. What
cognitive limitation, as described in Piaget's theory,
does Sarah's statement exemplify?
a. Centration b. Egocentrism
c. Reversibility d. Conservation
QUIZ #5:

2. Mia, aged 5, plays with a dollhouse and pretends

the dolls are alive, talking, and having tea parties.
What Piagetian concept is displayed by Mia?
a. Object Permanence
b. Egocentrism
c. Symbolic Play
d. Abstract Thinking
QUIZ #5:

3. At a family dinner, 8-year-old Alex helps distribute

pizza slices. He cuts one pizza into six slices and
another into eight slices, believing he has more
pizza with the second one. What Piagetian
concept does this illustrate?
a. Centration b. Conservation
c. Classification d. Reversibility
QUIZ #5:
4. During a class discussion, 10-year-old Jake
describes how his goldfish died when he forgot to
feed it. What cognitive development stage is Jake
likely in, according to Piaget?
a. Sensorimotor Stage
b. Preoperational Stage
c. Concrete operational Stage
d. Formal operational Stage
QUIZ #5:
5. Emma, a 12-year-old, uses abstract thinking to
solve a complex math problem involving algebraic
equations. Which Piagetian stage is she most
likely in?
a. Sensorimotor Stage
b. Preoperational Stage
c. Concrete Operational Stage
d. Formal Operational Stage
QUIZ #5:

6. At a science fair, 7-year-old Liam is asked to

explain why he thinks plants need sunlight to
grow. He responds, "Because they're hungry for
light." What aspect of Piaget's theory does Liam's
response highlight?
a. Egocentrism b. Animism
c. Centration d. Conservation
QUIZ #5:
7. A nine-year-old Sofia can understand and follow
instructions for building complex LEGO structures
by reading the manuals. What cognitive ability
does this demonstrate?
a. Abstract Thinking
b. Centration
c. Conservation
d. Egocentrism
QUIZ #5:

8. Thomas, age 6, sorts his toy cars by color and

then by size, demonstrating the ability to
categorize objects. Which Piagetian concept is
this?
a. Centration b. Classification
c. Conservation d. Assimilation
QUIZ #5:
9. Eleven-year-old Maya enjoys discussing ethical
dilemmas with her friends and exploring various
viewpoints. What cognitive ability does this
reflect?
a. Concrete Operational Thinking
b. Centration
c. Conservation
d. Moral Reasoning
QUIZ #5:

10. Sarah, age 8, understands that if 3 + 2

equals 5, then 2 + 3 must also equal 5.
What concept of Piaget's theory does this
exemplify?
a. Centration b. Conservation
c. Reversibility d. Egocentrism
QUIZ #5: Provide a short and concise answer with some relevant examples for
clarification. Answer each question in full sentences. (5 points each)

1. Using your own words, describe the following terms:

object permanence, egocentrism, reversibility, animism,
centration, and principle of conservation.
2. Describe the distinctions between Symbolic Play, Fantasy
Play and Make-believe play as part of cognitive thought of
the child.
3. Suppose you need to design a program to teach a 6-year-
old child a new academic skill. How would you approach
this from Piaget’s perspective?
QUIZ #5: Provide a short and concise answer with some relevant examples for
clarification. Answer each question in full sentences. (5 points each)

4. According to Piaget’s theory, how young children learn

mathematics through play in early childhood
education?

5. If you were a teacher with a class of diverse learners,

how would use Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive
Development in your daily teaching and planning?