AP Psychology Cognitive Development Paper
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Starting in the early half of the 20th century, there was a renewed interest in the study of development.[1] As part of such, Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development attempts to unravel how the human mind comes to take in new knowledge through various methods. The two main methods through which humans integrate information are assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation involved manipulating new information into existing schemas, or pre-existing patterns of thought. On the other hand, accommodation involved altering the schemas to fit the new information.[2] The popular understanding of Piaget’s theory is the stage-based transition of cognitive development. However, as van Geert tells us, “…[it] is not so much a stage or period of life as a phenomenon whose development he wants to unravel.” (144) Piaget instead explores such phenomenon as object permanence, numbers & space, propositional logic, representation, dreams, etc. While the role of stages plays a pivotal role in the developmental markers of children, due to the extrinsic factors involved in growing up it is impossible to pinpoint a specific time at which something will happen. As van Geert elaborates, “…it is the special interplay between the subject and its environment, be that environment conceived of as basically physical or basically cultural…[that] succeeds in integrating subjective and objective factors and by doing so transforms them into something qualitatively new.” (144) Nonetheless, the four basic stages proposed are: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational. Until approximately two years of age, the Sensorimotor stage entails experiencing the environment around through the relatively new perspective of senses. Then, until about seven years old, the Preoperational stage includes the development of representational thinking using words to represent real-life objects. Third in line is Concrete Operational, which lasts until adolescence. In such, logical thinking comes back with children now developing the ability to mathematically manipulate numbers in their heads. After adolescence through the rest of our lives, the Formal Operational stage takes hold where people fully develop abstract thinking and the potential to think in moral terms.[3] As a biologist,2 Piaget’s general principle of change through biological development is demonstrated via the stages to convey the phenomenon found throughout.
[1] Geert, P. V. (1998). We almost had a great future behind us: The contribution of non‐linear dynamics to developmental‐science‐in‐the‐making. Developmental Science, 1(1), 143–159. doi: 10.1111/1467-7687.00020. Retrieved November 1, from SCF Database.
[2] Massey University of New Zealand. (2002). Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwpapajl/evolution/assign2/DD/theory.html.
[3] Wood, K. C., Smith, H., Grossniklaus, D. (2001). Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved November 1, from SCF Database.
