Theories Of Jean Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory

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Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory
Jean considered himself a genetic epistemologist that focus on “How we come to know.” Piaget theory proposed by various stages of a child where transition from one stage to the other follows a sequence. While some of his ideas have been supported through more correlational and experimental methodologies, others have not. For example, Piaget believed that biological development drives the movement from one cognitive stage to the next. Data from cross-sectional studies of children in a variety of western cultures seem to support this assertion for the stages of sensorimotor, preoperational, and concrete operations (Renner, Stafford, Lawson, McKinnon, Friot & Kellogg, 1976).

Eric Erikson’s Psychosocial …show more content…

He asserts that the environment interacts with an individual to influence the development. In each of the phases, one encounters crisis and success depends on how he handles the challenges. Skills acquired in progression to another stage lessen insecurity in the individual. These challenges occur in the lifespan from infancy to older age of an individual. Piaget’s theory of cognitive development looks into thought processes of a person. His emphasis is mainly in the earlier stages below the age of twelve. Development of cognitive skills occurs from infancy to the operational phase (above 12 years of age) where abstract thoughts make sense. Naming of the stages represents the cognitive skill attained in the child and adult. Despite the use of stages, they both differ on the timing aspect; Erikson’s theory holds that the first stage ends at one year old while Piaget postulates that the first stage ends at two years of …show more content…

Cognitive development also takes place with language being understood in the early years while abstract thinking occurs at adolescence. Social development and emotional expressions also accompany people in development while security and safety at younger ages leads to a better outlook on the surroundings (Rathus 507). 320 pp., $25(c) Copyright 2004. The Christian Science Monitor

Conclusion
Piaget and Erikson contributed a lot in the field of development psychology. Though drawing inspiration from diverse sources in the 20th century, their contributions cannot be ignored despite the time gap. In conclusion, the paper highlighted similarities as well as differences between the two stages. Stages were the main focal points of the theories with each preceding stage unique from the next. My conclusion is that Piaget and Erikson are focusing on the same genetics and that is how we are developing. I really don’t see a whole lot of differences in them.

Works Cited
Rathus, Spencer. Childhood and Adolescence: Voyages in Development. New York: Centage learning, 2010.

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