Intro
Cognitive development study, Ann Birch book, Developmental psychology: from infancy to adulthood “ she defines as ‘study of the psychological changes that take place between birth and old age’ (1997, 1), intentions to describe and explain the changes that occur the duration of one’s birth to adulthood.
The essay will discuss the approaches of cognitive developments by the field’s most influential Jean Piaget, his three main principles as well as the four stages of cognitive development that explains behaviours of transformations the child goes through to adulthood.
Piaget’s scientific study was first to identify, that children were not only mini copies of grownups, but were …show more content…
Throughout this stage rapid changes occur, from helpless infant to walking and talking child. During this period six subdivided motor of development occurs, the substage of sensorimotor consist:
First the reflexes, this begins from birth to the first month, infants sensormotor reflexes is essential Piaget refers as built in schema, this is the ability to imitate, e.g. sucking reflexes (Oakley, 2004).
Second the primary circular reaction (one to four months), the child focus on own body, the child begins to experience sucking his/her fingers, no distinction ‘between self and outside world’ (ibid).
Third secondary circular reaction (four months to ten months) starts when the child begins to ‘kick’ and ‘grab’. The child’s actions are repetitive. Fourth Co-ordination of secondary circular reaction (ten months to twelve months) the child stars merging schemas to problem solving, e.g. schema to kick toys out of the way to get other toys (Gonzalez-DeHass & Alyssa & Willems & Patricia, …show more content…
How adequate is his account?"
Jean Piaget’s cognitive development theory, established the first complete account stages of child’s development, this had many educational impacts, particularly the primary education; he challenged the passive view on how children learn and led to influence a vast amount of research. His study changed the way children were viewed.
However it is, important to note the limitations of his study, he undervalued the early age capability of the child and overestimated the later years stages. Critics accuse Piaget’s study to be bias due to his use of small samples also ignoring the importance of geographical location, social surroundings or culture (Thomas, 2005). Piaget also stated that not a lot changes take place in cognitive development after adolescence (Bruce & Muhammad, 2009). Feminist likewise criticise Piaget for focusing his study on boys and masculinity, and marginalising girls (Pound,