Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development involves finding equilibrium between assimilation and accommodation. Humans go through four stages of growth, building on each other, and developing more complex thought processes. Genetic makeup and environment play a role in overall intelligence.
In most cases, the theory of cognitive development refers to a case study written by Jean Piaget in 1952, which he developed after years of studying children’s behavior and development. According to his theories, cognitive development involves the constant struggle to find the equilibrium, or equilibrium, between assimilation and accommodation. These two states of being refer to basing new information on past experiences and welcoming thoughts to gain new and sometimes conflicting information.
According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, humans go through four main stages of growth. These are the infancy stage, early childhood and preschool stage, elementary stage and early adolescence, and teenage and adulthood stage. The scientific names for these stages are sensorimotor, preoperative, concrete operational, and formal operational stages. Each builds on the other, and humans slowly develop more complex and symbolic thought processes as they get older.
There are several substages or levels to each major stage in the theory of cognitive development. For example, newborns have very little understanding of the world around them and don’t recognize much of anything. As they learn, infants come to recognize caregivers, anticipate actions or events such as eating or sleeping, and develop object permanence, or the concept that a person or object does not cease to exist even when they cannot be seen. By the end of the infancy stage, most children are able to assign words to some objects verbally and understand many more when said by others.
Cognitive development theory states that all humans go through all four stages, although some may move faster or slower than others. By adulthood, most people are capable of complex thoughts and emotions, as well as interpreting symbolism and irony. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as those with mental handicaps.
Although cognitive development theory states that all humans go through the same stages, how well this happens depends on two factors. Genetic makeup plays a role in overall intelligence, and some believe that every person is born with a predetermined level of intelligence to attain. Your home environment and how you are raised, nurtured, and encouraged also play a role in how much intellect you can attain. Researchers are still debating whether genetic predisposition or environment is more important in terms of development, but most agree that a person’s overall intelligence is generally a combination of both.
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