PIAGETIAN PERSPECTIVE

(ENDOGENOUS CONSTRUCTIVIST)
JEAN PIAGET

 Swiss biologist, philosopher, and behavioral scientist who

developed one of the most significant theories in cognitive
psychology.
 He described himself as a genetic epistemologist.
 He focused on developing a general theory of knowledge.
How a child develops a knowledge of his or her world.
The role that biology plays in that development.
Starts with the fact that individuals are born
with reflexes that allow them to interact with
the environment.
 Sub-Stage Age Description
Simple Reflexes Birth-6 weeks "Coordination of
sensation and action
through reflexive
behaviors.

First habits and 6 weeks- "Coordination of

primary circular 4 months sensation and two
types of schemes:
reactions phase
habits (reflex) and
primary circular
reactions
(reproduction of an
event that initially
occurred by chance).
Main focus is still on
Sub-Stage Age Description

Secondary circular 4–8 months Development of habits.

reactions phase "Infants become more
object-oriented, moving
beyond self-
preoccupation; repeat
actions that bring
interesting or
pleasurable results
Coordination of 8–12 months "Coordination of vision
secondary circular and touch--hand-eye
coordination;
reactions stages coordination of schemes
and intentionality."[5]
This stage is associated
primarily with the
development of logic
and the coordination
between means and
 Sub-Stage Age Description

Tertiary circular reactions, 12–18 months Infants become intrigued by

novelty, and curiosity the many properties of objects
and by the many things they
can make happen to objects;
they experiment with new
behavior

Internalization of Schemes 18–24 months "Infants develop the ability to

use primitive symbols and
form enduring mental
representations."[5] This stage
is associated primarily with the
beginnings of insight, or true
creativity. This marks the
passage into the
preoperational stage.
Intelligence is represented
by how an organism
interact with it’s
environment through
mental adaptation.
 2 WAYS OF ADAPTATION

1. Assimilation – process of matching external

reality to an existing Cognitive Structures.

2. Accommodation -The process of accommodation

involves altering one's existing schemas, or ideas,
as a result of new information or new
experiences.
ACTIVITY:

My own son, then 3 years old at the

time. We were out shopping and three
trucks drive by, two 18-wheelers, and a
smaller truck. "Look", my son says, "a daddy
truck, a mommy truck and a baby truck." Is
this assimilation or accommodation? Explain
why.
Thank You ! 