All About Developmental Theorists
By:Taylor E. Payne
Piaget: Cognitive Development:
● Area of theory (Definition): Piaget’s theory is in the area of cognitive
development. His work serves a comprehensive theory about nature and the
area of human intelligence.
● Also known as the developmental stage theory as it states that we go through
four distinct stages of development as we acquire knowledge.
○ Organization: The tendency to systematize and combine processes into
coherent general systems.
○ Adaptation: The tendency to adjust to the environment
○ Scheme: Organized, generalizable patterns of behavior or thought.
● Stages with Descriptions & Age Ranges:
○ Sensorimotor (Birth to 2 years): Develops schemes primarily through
sense and motor activities. Recognizes permanence of objects not seen.
○ Preoperational (2-7 years): Gradually acquires ability to conserve and
decanter but not capable of operations and unable to mentally reverse
actions.
○ Concrete Operational (7-11 years): Capable of operations that solves
