Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) theory of cognitive development began in the 1920’s. His partner, Theodore Simon, designed a standardized test that was meant to measure a child’s intelligence and how his/her age could be responsible for the nature of the mistakes made. Piaget found this test to be too constricting however, and so created a revised version. With this less rigid version, Piaget studied a child’s intelligence and their reasoning for the errors they made. He found that, if they did not have experience regarding the subject, they used their imagination to come up with solutions. Following this discovery, Piaget would have two children. He would spend a substantial amount of time watching them and their reactions to experiments he conducted. From this, he would come to
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This final stage encompasses adolescence and adults alike, and is defined predominantly by its usage of abstract thinking and its ability to solve problems using logic and reasoning. During this time, people are able to think of things in a more hypothetical sense, rather than just seeing things on a “surface” level. It is believed- by Piaget- that many are not able to reach this stage of development.
Assimilation is the ability to incorporate new material or information into existing schemas or mental frameworks. For example, an art student learning new techniques for his medium, would add this new information into an already existing schema for art techniques.
Accommodation, on the other hand, is reconstructing existing schemas to incorporate new information. This happens when newly gained information does not fit with previous thoughts. This can be seen when one’s stereotypes or prejudiced behavior is challenged and causes their opinion toward that matter to change. For example, an individual may believe that all atheists are evil, however after seeing one perform a kind act, they may instead think that only some atheists are evil.
This final stage encompasses adolescence and adults alike, and is defined predominantly by its usage of abstract thinking and its ability to solve problems using logic and reasoning. During this time, people are able to think of things in a more hypothetical sense, rather than just seeing things on a “surface” level. It is believed- by Piaget- that many are not able to reach this stage of development.
Assimilation is the ability to incorporate new material or information into existing schemas or mental frameworks. For example, an art student learning new techniques for his medium, would add this new information into an already existing schema for art techniques.
Accommodation, on the other hand, is reconstructing existing schemas to incorporate new information. This happens when newly gained information does not fit with previous thoughts. This can be seen when one’s stereotypes or prejudiced behavior is challenged and causes their opinion toward that matter to change. For example, an individual may believe that all atheists are evil, however after seeing one perform a kind act, they may instead think that only some atheists are evil.