Piagets Cognitive Stages

1
Piagets Cognitive Stages

• Preoperational stage 2-7
• Concrete operational stage 7-11
• Formal operational stage 11

2
Preoperational Stage

• Egocentric (unintentionally)
• Until around 6/7, not capable of any
  understanding of others viewpoints
• (ex.- bumping accidents)

3
Representation

• Something other than objects or events is used to
  represent objects/events
• Symbolic function

4
Kinds of Representation

• Deferred imitation
• Symbolic play
• Drawing
• Mental images
• Spoken language

5
Deferred Imitation

• Imitation begins as early as three months of age
  by attempting to imitate others who are present.
• Deferred imitation usually begins around 2 (patty
  cake-solo)

6
Symbolic Play

• Game of pretending
• Block of wood is a car
• A form of self-expression
• Self is the audience
• Function is to transform what is real into what
  is desired

7
Symbolic Play

• The creation of symbols at will in order to
  express everything in the childs life that
  cannot be formulated and assimilated by means of
  language alone (Wadsworth, 1989).

8
Drawing

• As stage progresses, drawing becomes a way to
  represent things
• Children in this stage draw what they think, not
  what they see (i.e., not visually accurate)

9
Mental Images

• Internal representations of objects and past
  perceptual experiences
• Not accurate copies of these experiences
• Imitations

10
Intentions

• No grasp of others intentions
• Therefore, no understanding that he didnt do it
  on purpose

11
Logic

• Perception over logic
• Dots (ex.)
• No hypotheticals

12
Reversibility

• Cannot reverse operations
• Inflexibility that began in motor stage-motor
  acts are irreversible
• Coins
• Cannot reverse the act of lenthening

13
Implications

• Death/divorce and other kinds of loss
• No understanding of permanence
• Typically, wont be as distressed

14
Social Feelings

• Begin to emerge in this stage
• Appreciation of the other person is possible (I
  like you, etc.)
• Some concept of mutual respect
• Morality is about obedience

15
Lying

• No real understanding of what lying is
• When Piaget asked a six year old what it meant to
  lie, the child told him that it was saying
  naughty words.
• No intention to deceive
• Avoidance of conflict

16
Implications

• Dont ask a young child why
• Understand that fantasy is more interesting than
  reality
• Limited understanding of moral issues

17
Summary of Preoperational

• Egocentric
• No understanding of intentions
• Perception over logic

18
Summary

• Symbolic play important
• Limited understanding of death/divorce
• No concept of what it means to lie

19
Concrete Operations 7-11

• Able to be logical
• Able to solve problems
• Able to solve problems that involve real,
  observable objects and events

20
Problem Solving

• Unable to solve problems that are hypothetical,
  purely verbal, or abstract

21
Cognitively

• Understands causality
• Understands speed and time relationship around 10
  yrs. Old
• Thinking is reversible (balls)
• Implications for grief

22
Socially/Emotionally

• Less egocentric
• Understands intentions as stage progresses (8 or
  9)
• Capable of some empathy

23
Socially/Emotionally

• Can use past experiences to assist reasoning
• Seeks validation from peers
• Aware that others can come to conclusions that
  are different from her own

24
Morally

• More capable of making own moral evaluations
  (7-8)
• Understands relationship between intentions and
  morality
• Possesses a full understanding of lying by age
  11-12

25
Rules

• Preoperational children view rules as absolute
  and adhere to them rigidly
• Concrete operational children begin to grasp the
  significance of rules
• Rules can even be changed if everyone agrees

26
Summary

• Transitional period between preoperational and
  formal operational
• Beginning of logic
• Logic limited to the concrete
• Peer group begins to play significant role

27
Formal Operations 11

• Abstract thinking
• Gradual development of full or adult logic and
  reasoning
• Peer group continues to become more important