Question

Chapter 11 describes four major stage theories (developed by Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson and Freud). Explain which one appeals to you the most and why. In explaining give a brief overview of the theory.

Answer 1

The Piaget’s theory of cognitive development appeals me the most. Because Piaget's theory of cognitive development is a comprehensive theory about the nature and development of human intelligence which was created by the Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget. His theory focuses not only on understanding how children acquire knowledge, but also on understanding the nature of intelligence. Hence I would go ahead with explaining the Piaget’s theory.

Piaget suggested that children move through four different stages of mental development. These stages are:

• Sensorimotor stage: This stage is from birth to 2 years. In this stage the infant knows the world through their movenments and sensation. Children learn about the world through basic actions such as sucking, grasping, looking, and listening.
• Preoperational stage: This Stage is from 2yrs to 7yrs of Age.         During this stage Children begin to think symbolically and learn to use words and pictures to represent objects. Children at this stage tend to be egocentric and struggle to see things from the perspective of others.
• Concrete operational stage: This Stage is from 7 yrs to 11 years of age. During this stage, children begin to thinking logically about concrete events.
• Formal operational stage: This stage is from 12 years of age and above. At this stage, the adolescent or young adult begins to think abstractly and reason about hypothetical problems. Teens begin to think more about moral, philosophical, ethical, social, and political issues that require theoretical and abstract reasoning.