Reaction Paper : Cognitive Development Theories Essay

936 Words4 Pages
Cassidy Denk
11/29/16
Sociology
Reaction Paper: Cognitive Development Theories This key term found in chapter 5 of the Sociology textbook is defined as the four stages of intellectual development for children. Each shift in development marks a change in how a child views and understands the world. The first of the four stages of cognitive development is known as the sensorimotor stage. This stage takes place from birth to age 2. The second stage of cognitive development is the preoperational stage taking place from age 2 to about age 7. The third stage is known as the concrete operational stage taking place from age 7 to 11. The last of the four stages is known as the formal operational stage which begins in adolescence and continues into adulthood. The discoverer of cognitive development theory was a Swiss psychologist named Jean Piaget. Piaget received a doctoral degree at the University of Neuchatel at age 22 in natural history. After deciding a partnership with Carl Jung, Theodore Simon, and Alfred Binet, Piaget was offered a position to oversee intelligence tests developed by Binet and Simon. From there, Piaget developed an interest in mental development of children. Based on his observations, he concluded that children were, “not less intelligent than adults but simply think differently.”. Albert Einstein actually commented on this conclusion saying, “so simple only a genius could have thought of it.” Piaget’s stage theory describes the cognitive development of

More about Reaction Paper : Cognitive Development Theories Essay

Get Access