Jean Piegat: Biography & Theory of Cognitive Development

Developed a theory about childhood development that still greatly influences behavioural psychologist and educators today.

Biography:

-born in 1896-1980 in Neuchatel

-attended the University of Neuchatel

-received a PhD in Natural Science

-Moved to Paris, France to teach at an all boy school

-Here was what led him to his theory that young children’s cognitive processes are inherently different from those of adults.

-1921 returned to Switzerland and become the director of Rousseau Institute in Geneva

-1923 married Valentine Châtenay

-1929-1968 he was the director of the International Bureau of Education

-1979 awarded with Balzan Prize for Social and Political Science.

Theory of Cognitive Development:

1. Sensori-Motor (birth – 2 years): Differentiates self from objects.  Recognizes self as agent of action and begins to act intentionally (ex. pulling a string – mobile moves).  Realizes that things exist even when no longer present.
2. Pre-operational (2-7 years): learns to use language and to represent objects by images and words.  Thinking is still egocentric (ex. Hard from them to take view points of others)
3. Concrete Operational (7-11 years): Can think logically about objects and events.  Achieves conservation of number (age 6) mass(age 7) weight(age 9)
4. Formal Operational (11 years and up): Can think logically about abstract proposition and test hypotheses systematically.  Becomes concerned with the hypothetical, the future and ideological problems.

Importance: Educators are able to teach to the child at the appropriate level depending on their stage of development.  The result has been a greater understand and retention of the lesson taught.

Challenges

-Russian psychologist > Lev Vygtsky stressed the importance of a child’s cultural background as an effect to the stages of development.

-challenged his theory that the hierarchy of learning development had to develop in succession.

Interesting Facts

-First interested in Biology and Natural Science

-Wrote his first article at the age of 10

-Published 60 books and several hundred articles (before the age of 21)

-In 1955 created the International Centre for Genetic Epistemology in Geneva.

William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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