Psychology, Mental Health Nursing

1. Jean Piaget’s Theory of
Cognitive Development
Born: Aug 9, 1896
Birthplace: Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Died: September 17, 1980
Location of death: Geneva, Switzerland
Cause of death: unspecified
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Occupation: Psychologist
Nationality: Switzerland
Executive summary: Elaborated the stages of childhood
Cognitive development refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and gains understanding
of his or her world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors. Among the
areas of cognitive development are information processing, intelligence, reasoning,
language development, and memory.
Cognitive Stages of Development
Sensorimotor (0-2
years)
Development proceeds from reflex activity to representation
and sensorimotor solutions to problems
Pre-operational (2-7
years)
Problems solved through representation; language
development; (2-4 years); thoughts and language both
egocentric; cannot solve conservation problems.
Concrete Operation
(7-11 years)
Reversibility attained; can solve conservation problems; Logical
operation developed and applied to concrete problems; cannot
solve complex verbal problems.
Formal Operation (11
years-adulthood)
Logically solves all types of problems; thinks scientifically; solves
complex problems; cognitive structures mature.

2. Sensorimotor stage (infancy): In this period, which has six sub-stages,
intelligence is demonstrated through motor activity without the use of symbols.
Knowledge of the world is limited, but developing, because it is based on physical
interactions and experiences. Children acquire object permanence at about seven
months of age (memory). Physical development (mobility) allows the child to
begin developing new intellectual abilities. Some symbolic (language) abilities are
developed at the end of this stage.
Pre-operational stage (toddlerhood and early childhood): In this period, which
has two sub stages, intelligence is demonstrated through the use of symbols,
language use matures, and memory and imagination are developed, but thinking
is done in a non-logical, non-reversible manner. Egocentric thinking
predominates.
Concrete operational stage (elementary and early adolescence): In this stage,
characterized by seven types of conservation (number, length, liquid, mass,
weight, area, and volume), intelligence is demonstrated through logical and
systematic manipulation of symbols related to concrete objects. Operational
thinking develops (mental actions that are reversible). Egocentric thought
diminishes.
Formal operational stage (adolescence and adulthood): In this stage, intelligence
is demonstrated through the logical use of symbols related to abstract concepts.
Early in the period there is a return to egocentric thought. Only 35 percent of
high school graduates in industrialized countries obtain formal operations; many
people do not think formally during adulthood.
References:
Dizon,. General Psychology. Manila: Rex Bookstore, 2003
Uriarte, Gabriel G. General Psychology. Manila, 2007
http://www.answers.com/Cognitive%20Development