Running Head: THEORY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 1
Theory of Cognitive Development
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliations
THEORY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2
Hi Ash,
Thank you for your discussion and accurate articulation of the theory of cognitive
development. I appreciate the fact that you have included the four steps of development among
human beings to include sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and the formal
operational stages (Piaget, 1951). While you have done a good job in articulating each of the four
stages of cognitive development in children, you have failed to analyze the fourth stage of formal
operation thoroughly. Perhaps, your discussion would have been more accurate and informative
if it included a discussion of the fourth and final stage of cognitive development in children.
Besides, the discussion is accurate in weaving spiritual development into the processes of
cognitive development. As noted in Love and Talbot (2009), spiritual development is significant
in contributing to the development of reasonable and sound judgment among human beings.
While your discussion is effective in articulating these concepts, it lacks to provide practical
examples of each of the four stages of cognitive development. For instance, the preoperational
stage of cognitive development is characterized by a focus on one dimension of problems.
Inherently, children at this stage assume that other people hear or see exactly the same things that
the child does. That notwithstanding, your integration of evidence to support your opinions
makes them credible.
THEORY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 3
References
Love, P., & Talbot, D. (2009). Defining spiritual development: A missing consideration for
student affairs. NASPA Journal, 46(4), 614-628.
Piaget, J. (1951). Egocentric thought and sociocentric thought. Sociological studies, 270-286.
The student must then post 1 reply of 200-250 words...The reply focuses on a
meaningful point made in another student’s or professor’s thread. The reply provides
substantive additional thoughts regarding the thread and includes 200-250 words of
content. The reply post provides one strength and one weakness found in another
student’s original post. The reply is clear and coherent.
Spelling and grammar are correct. Sentences are complete, clear, and
concise.Paragraphs contain appropriately varied sentence structures. References
are cited in current APA format.
The reply must point out 1 strength and 1 weakness to the content of the original
post.
Please reply to
Posted by Ash V
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
Lifespan development explores the changes that happen from conception to death. Jean
Piaget, was a Swiss psychologist most known for his work on child development. His theory,
Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development, stated there are 4 developmental stages in
human’s growth. The stages are sensorimotor, preoperational, concreate operational, and the
formal operational.
The sensorimotor stage is from birth to the age of 2. Piaget believed that infants learned by
using all five senses and manipulating the world around them. This is how they learn to
explore. “At this stage, the infant’s learning is mainly directed towards coordinating his
actions and perceptions into organized schemata of action” (Rathee, N. & Islam, N. (2016).
They also may develop separation anxiety during this time. By the time they are at the end of
this stage, children begin to imitate what they see. Children develop empirical support early in
this theory by using their sense to learn and imitate the world around them.
The second stage, preoperational stage is said to occur from 2 to 6 years old. During this stage
the child is learning to take and has the ability to pretend play. They are lacking in logical
thinking and being able to reason through problems. During this stage children think they are
invincible and will try anything without regards to danger.
The next stage is concrete operational. This occurs from 7-12 years old. Children are
becoming logical thinkers and are beginning to understand the principle of conservation. They
are beginning to have and understand conversation. Piaget’s theory suggested this was when
children can incorporate inductive reasoning.
Piaget’s theory is a great starting point in the cognitive development of a child. It is easy to
follow and has empirical support to prove his theory. Each stage is guided by experience
and/or observation as the child grows. Piaget’s theory is centered around the idea that a child
learns and develops by watching those around them. This is a use of our empirical knowledge.
Spiritual development is important with helping a person develop natural ways to be honest,
have morals and ethics. It also helps us make reasonable and sound judgement calls. Matthew
5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
This reminds us that our spiritual development will allow us to search for the right thing to do
and be satisfied when we are spiritually healthy. It is connected with the other areas of
development because it is part of being a whole person. Spiritual wellbeing, physical
wellbeing, emotional wellbeing and social wellbeing all contribute to a balanced way of life.
All these areas intersect with one another on a daily basis.
Patrick Love & Donna Talbot (2009) Defining Spiritual Development: A Missing
Consideration for Student Affairs, NASPA Journal, 46:4, 614-628, DOI: 10.2202/1949-
6605.5035
Rathee, N. & Islam, N. (2016). Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development of the
Child, https://fac.ac.in/Journal/2016/14-FACJ-6-2016.pdf
Wong, D., Hall, K. R., Justice, C. A., and Hernandez, L. W. (2015). Counseling Individuals
Through the Lifespan (Custom Package). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication. ISBN:
9781506355153
