Piaget's theory of cognitive development stages

Definition

Piaget's theory of cognitive development stages refers to Jean Piaget's theory that describes the four main stages of how children actively construct their understanding of the world: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.

Related terms

Schemas:

Schemas are mental frameworks or structures that help organize and interpret information. They play a crucial role in Piaget's theory as children develop and modify schemas to accommodate new information.

Assimilation:

Assimilation is the process by which individuals incorporate new experiences or information into existing schemas. It involves fitting new information into pre-existing mental structures.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is the process by which individuals modify existing schemas or create new ones to incorporate new information that does not fit into existing mental structures.