Key Concepts

Cognition and Development – Piaget's Theories

In this course, Dr Richard O’Connor (University of Hull) explores Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. In the first lecture, we think about the key concepts of Piaget’s theory and his proposed stages of cognitive development, before focusing on each stage in turn. In the second lecture, we think about the sensorimotor stage, from 0-2 years, focusing on object permanence. In the third lecture, we think about the pre-operational stage, from 2-7 years, focusing on conservation and egocentrism. Next, we think about the stages of concrete and formal operations. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about the influence Piaget’s theory of cognitive development has had and continues to have on research in the field of developmental psychology.

Key Concepts

In this lecture, we think about the key concepts of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, focusing in particular on: (i) introducing Piaget as an influential theorist and researcher in cognitive developmental psychology; (ii) Piaget’s stage theory and its four stages of development being the sensorimotor stage, the pre-operational stage, the stage of concrete operations and the stage of formal operations; (iii) Piaget’s description of the key process that underlies cognitive development, where a child adapts their schemas through accommodation and assimilation; (iv) descriptions and examples of schemas, accommodation and assimilation; (v) acknowledgement that in this key process, the child is an active participant of building their own knowledge and understanding of the world.