What Is the Theory of Cognitive Development?
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 study on the behavior and development of children. According to his theories, cognitive development involves the constant struggle to find balance, or equilibrium, between assimilation and accommodation. These two states of being refer to basing new information on past experiences and accommodating thoughts to obtain new and sometimes conflicting information. According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, humans undergo four main stages of growth. These are the infancy stage, toddler and preschool stage, elementary and early adolescence stage, and the teen and adulthood stage. The scientific names for these stages are the sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages. Each one builds upon the other, and humans slowly develop more complex and symbolic thought processes as they get older.
