Description:
(Swiss Psychologist Known for His Work on Child Development)
Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist and philosopher best known for his work on the cognitive development in children. He identified his field of study as ‘genetic epistemology’, a theory which combines cognitive development with epistemological view. Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature, origin, extent, and limits of human knowledge. What Piaget studied was the impact of genetics on the epistemological process. An intelligent child with a curious mind, Jean Piaget’s inclination towards scientific research was evident from his childhood when he began researching on an albino sparrow when he was just 11 years old. His interests later on were directed at psychoanalysis and he assisted Alfred Binet, the developer of Binet intelligence tests in marking the tests. During this time he became interested in the process of cognitive development in young children which differed considerably form the cognitive processes of older children and adults, and this motivated him to study the development of thinking processes in children. He considered education as a very important tool of imparting knowledge and believed that only education had the power of saving future societies from possible collapse. He founded the International Center for Genetic Epistemology in Geneva and served as its director till his death.
Birthday
August 9, 1896 (Leo)
Born In
Switzerland
Alternative names
Jean William Fritz Piaget
Died on
September 16, 1980
Spouse/Ex-
Valentine Châtenay
Parents
Arthur Piaget
Rebecca Jackson
Children
Jacqueline Piaget, Laurent Piaget, Lucienne Piaget
What are the stages of cognitive development according to Jean Piaget?
Jean Piaget identified four stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
What is the main idea behind Piaget's theory of cognitive development?
Piaget's theory suggests that children actively construct their understanding of the world through their experiences and interactions.
How did Jean Piaget view the role of play in children's development?
Piaget believed that play was essential for children to learn and practice new skills, as it allows them to explore and experiment in a safe and enjoyable way.
What is object permanence, according to Piaget's theory?
Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight, a concept developed during the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development.
What is the concept of conservation in Piaget's theory?
Conservation is the understanding that certain properties of objects, such as volume or quantity, remain the same even when their outward appearance changes, a key milestone in cognitive development according to Piaget.