How it is the Structure and Function of Cognition Unfolds
1. Born in Switzerland.
2. Worked with some “heavyweights” in France.
3. Concerned with manipulative behavior of
children-- how they come to know things.
 4. Developed an inductively built theory.
 5. His influence here in the U.S.
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A Theory is Made Up of Component Parts
Assumptions
The “givens of a theory
accepted w/o proof
Concepts
The elements on which
the theory is built
Structure
What the theory “looks”
like when it is graphically
illustrated
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Humans are biological organisms made up of
reflexes and drives.
Humans are not passive in their
development.
Humans a combination of genetic makeup
and environmental influences.
Mental growth consists of two processes: (a)
development and (b) learning
Schemata-- refers to cognitive structures.
Organization-- refers to the way schemata are
organized and set up.
 Adaptation-- refers to the invariant process of
change in schemata.
 Equilibrium-- refers to the cognitive balance that
humans strive for through out development
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Organize Schemata
Adapt Schemata
Assimilation
Accomodation
Formal Operational
Period
Concrete Operational
Period
Pre-operational Period
Sensorimotor Period
Plane of Thought
Formal Operational
Period
Concrete Operational
Period
Pre-operational Period
Sensorimotor Period
Plane of Action
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Substage 1: Reflexive or S-R Behavior
Substage 2: Primary Circular Reactions
Substage 3: Secondary Circular Reactions
Substage 4: Coordination of Secondary
Schemata
Substage 5: Tertiary Circular Reactions
Substage 6: New means through Mental
Combinations
O bj ec t
P er m ane n ce
Me nt al
R ep rese nt ati on s
S ym bol
S yst em
B eg ins w ith no visu al or manu al
search
M ent al R eprese nta tions c annot b e h eld
in mind: “ O ut o f Sigh t is O ut of Mind ”
N o u se o f symbols
S ea rch es for pa rti ally con ce aled
obj ec ts
M ent al R eprese nta tions a re b eginning
b e abl e to b e h eld in mind
S ea rches for co m ple tely
conc ea led obj ec ts
S ea rch ers a ft er visib le
di spl acem ent
S ea rch es after hidd en
di spl acem ent
to
M ent al R eprese nta tions a re abl e to b e
held in mind
M ent al R ep rese nta tions c
mind but th eir ext ern al
tent ativ e
M ent al R ep rese nta tions c
mind and th ey are
an be h eld in
exi stenc e is
an be h eld in
sec ur e
E m ergen ce o f rud imen tary
symbols
R ep rese nt ations a re cod ed
w ith symbol s: g estur es &
sounds
Symbol s are b ecom ing
mor e co m plex and are
mor e lingui sti c
Symbol ic Fun ction is
Ac hiev ed: Ges tur es a nd
L angu age
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Divided into 2 subperiods: The Preconceptual
(2-4) and The Intuitive (4-7)
Major Characteristic: Symbolic Function
evidenced by language, imaginative play,
increase in deferred imitation.
Acceleration of language is regarded as an
outcome of the development of
symbolization, rather than the inverse.
 Egocentrism
 Centration
 State
Fixation
 Unstable
Equilibrium
 Irreversibility
 Transduscive
Reasoning
 Conservation of Volume
 Conservation of Mass
 Conservation of Number
 Conservation of Length