Piagets theory of cognitive development Cheat Sheet

Jean piagets theory of cognitive develo­pment changed the thinking of how children’s thought process develops. As children grow their thought process change as a result of matura­tio­n(a­geing) and the enviro­nment. The mechanisms of cognitive develo­pment allow this to happen; schemas, assimi­lation, accomm­odation and equili­bra­tion.

Schema: A mental structure of related facts that are based on previous experi­ences. A schema is used as a mental shortcut to quickly generate future expect­ations. Some schemes such as grasping and sucking are innate. They develop through intera­ction with enviro­nments.
Assimi­lation: The process of fitting a new experience into a pre existing schema.
Accomo­dation: Having to adjust a pre existing schema because new inform­ation does not fit. Accomm­odation is the conseq­uence of disequ­ili­brium.
Equili­bration: The driving force behind accomm­odation and develo­pment. If something can’t be assimi­lated then a sense of disequ­lib­ration (unbal­ance) is formed and the individual must accomm­odate for equili­brium to reoccur.

Piaget stated that through maturation the brain developed along with experi­ences. Enabling children to become capable of further levels of thinking through each stage of develo­pment.

Relati­onship between members where they are in two different classes but they still come under one master class.
E.g: ANIMAL- dog/cat.
Pre operat­ional children cannot understand catego­ris­ation into sublevels.