Sensorimotor Stage
0-2 yrs
During this first stage, children learn entirely through the movements they
make and the sensations that result. They learn:



Preoperational Stage
2-7 yrs
that they exist separately from the objects and people around them
that they can cause things to happen
that things continue to exist even when they can't see them
Once children acquire language, they are able to use symbols (such as
words or pictures) to represent objects. Their thinking is still very egocentric
though -- they assume that everyone else sees things from the same
viewpoint as they do.
They are able to understand concepts like counting, classifying according to
similarity, and past-present-future but generally they are still focused
primarily on the present and on the concrete, rather than the abstract.
Concrete Operational Stage
7-11 yrs
At this stage, children are able to see things from different points of view
and to imagine events that occur outside their own lives. Some organized,
logical thought processes are now evident and they are able to:




order objects by size, color gradient, etc.
understand that if 3 + 4 = 7 then 7 - 4 = 3
understand that a red square can belong to both the 'red' category
and the 'square' category
understand that a short wide cup can hold the same amount of
liquid as a tall thin cup
However, thinking still tends to be tied to concrete reality
Formal Operational Stage
11+ yrs
Around the onset of puberty, children are able to reason in much more
abstract ways and to test hypotheses using systematic logic. There is a
much greater focus on possibilities and on ideological issues.
KOHLBERGS THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
Important
Events
Outcome
Infancy (birth to Trust vs.
18 months)
Mistrust
Feeding
Children develop a sense of trust when caregivers provide
reliabilty, care, and affection. A lack of this will lead to mistrust.
Early Childhood
(2 to 3 years)
Toilet Training Children need to develop a sense of personal control over physical
skills and a sense of independence. Success leads to feelings of
autonomy, failure results in feelings of shame and doubt.
Stage
Basic Conflict
Autonomy vs.
Shame and
Doubt
Preschool (3 to 5 Initiative vs.
years)
Guilt
Exploration
Children need to begin asserting control and power over the
environment. Success in this stage leads to a sense of purpose.
Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval,
resulting in a sense of guilt.
School Age (6 to Industry vs.
11 years)
Inferiority
School
Children need to cope with new social and academic demands.
Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in
feelings of inferiority.
Adolescence (12 Identity vs. Role Social
to 18 years)
Confusion
Relationships
Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity.
Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure
leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self.
Yound
Adulthood (19
to 40 years)
Intimacy vs.
Isolation
Young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other
people. Success leads to strong relationships, while failure results
in loneliness and isolation.
Middle
Adulthood (40
to 65 years)
Generativity vs. Work and
Stagnation
Parenthood
Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them,
often by having children or creating a positive change that benefits
other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and
accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the
world.
Maturity(65 to
death)
Ego Integrity vs. Reflection on
Despair
Life
Older adults need to look back on life and feel a sense of
fulfillment. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while
failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair.
Relationships