Piaget’s Constructivist Theory
Organization
• develop schemata (way the
person organizes the world)
Birth 2 yrs
2 yrs 7 yrs
Sensorimotor
Stage
Preoperational
Stage
Adaptation
Equilibration
• how person deals with new information
• assimilation: place new information into
existing schema
• accommodation: existing schema is modiIied
• bounce back and forth between
equilibrium & disequilibrium
• motivation for cognitive
development
• learn through sensation, motor activity, and observation
• hallmark developments:
• object permanence (8-12 mos): recognize that something exists even when out of sight-leads to separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
• symbolic representation (18-24 mos): use a symbol or word to represent objects
• utilize symbolic thought mentally represent objects, to engage in symbolic play, and
mentally solve problems.
• limited by:
• egocentrism: unable to have empathy or to understand other's view points
• magical thinking: believe that have control over things that they do not
• irreversibility: unable to realize that an action can be reversed
• centration: inability to notice anything beyond a single main detail
• animism: believe that objects have human-like characteristics (i.e., feelings)
7 yrs 11 yrs
Concrete
Operational
Stage
• can think logically about concrete ideas and solve practical problems
• hallmark development:
• conservation: developed reversibility & decentration and able to understand that
changing the dimensions of an object do not change the other dimensions--in the
following order: number, length, liquid, mass, area, weight & volume (called horizontal
decalage)
11+ yrs
Formal
Operational
Stage
• able to reason abstractly, and can engage in hypothetical deductive reasoning
• adolescent egocentrism: preoccupation with self--involves imaginary audience (belief that
center of attention) & personal fable (belief that they are special and invulnerable)