Developmental Psychology

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Developmental Psychology
An introduction to Piagets theory of cognitive
development
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JEAN PIAGET (1896-1980)

• How intelligence develops
• a biologist who moved on to psychology
• studied his own 3 children

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Before Piaget

• belief that childs mental machinery same as an
  adults, just lacking exposure to the world
• a passive model of education
• (filling up empty vessels)

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Cognitive Aliens

• Piagets idea
• the child is profoundly different from adults in
  its thinking

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PIAGETS THEORY

• Childs intellect develops in steps/stages
• (like evolutionary theory in biology)
• Child must pass through each stage in order
• Each stage depends on the one before to develop

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Piagets main 4 stages

• SENSORI-MOTOR (age 0-2)
• PRE-OPERATIONAL (2-7)
• CONCRETE OPERATIONAL (7-11)
• FORMAL OPERATIONAL (12)

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Piagets research

• Piaget demonstrated the STAGES by giving children
  TASKS
• children passing or failing at certain ages
  prove that the stages exist

PRE-OPERATIONAL
CONCRETE OPERATIONAL Marks the move to LOGICAL
THOUGHT!!!
Age 7 approx.
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EG the Mountains task
Piaget What can I see from MY viewpoint?

• Plaster mountains
• Child at one end
• Cards show 4 different views

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EG the Mountains task
Piaget What can I see from MY viewpoint?

• Plaster mountains
• Child at one end
• Cards show 4 different views

10
EG the Mountains task
Piaget What can I see from MY viewpoint?

• Plaster mountains
• Child at one end
• Cards show 4 different views

11
EG the Mountains task
Piaget What can I see from MY viewpoint?

• Plaster mountains
• Child at one end
• Cards show 4 different views
• Older children pick the right view

12
EG the Mountains task
Piaget What can I see from MY viewpoint?

• Plaster mountains
• Child at one end
• Cards show 4 different views
• Older children pick the right view
• Younger children only pick their own view
• Perceptual egocentrism