Piaget’s Theory

Jean Piaget was born in Switzerland in 1896. After receiving his doctoral degree at age 22, Piaget formally began a career that would have a profound impact on both psychology and education. After working with Alfred Binet, Piaget developed an interest in the intellectual development of children. Based upon his observations, he concluded that children were not less intelligent than adults, they simply think differently.

Piaget's theory of cognitive development is a comprehensive theory about the nature and development of human intelligence. Piaget’s concern was with how young children function in the world that surrounds them, and how this influences their mental development. The child is seen as continually interacting with the world around her/him, solving problems that are presented by the environment. Piaget's stage theory describes the cognitive development of children. Cognitive development involves changes in cognitive process and abilities.

In Piaget's view, early cognitive development involves processes based upon actions and later progresses into changes in mental operations. Piaget believed that this process of understanding and change involves two basic functions: Assimilation and accommodation.