Jean Piaget's Impact On The World Of Psychology
One of life’s greatest mysteries is the human brain. It is powerful, complex, and not able to be replicated, although many have tried. Throughout the human race’s time here on earth, many great minds have tried to crack this impossible puzzle that resides in everyone. Many theories have formed about how the brain thinks, learns and evolves throughout a human’s lifetime. Jean Piaget is one of the great minds to make an impact on this field of study. He made impressive strides in the world of psychology through the study of children and how they develop and learn as they grow. Born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Piaget excelled in science at an early age and wrote many essays and papers on the subject. He found a great interest in mollusks in
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his teenage years, and even went on to get a Ph. D. in natural sciences at the University of Neuchâtel. Although it was not until he spent a semester at the University of Zürich that he acquired a curiosity in psychology. His scientific career in studying the minds of children began at a French school for boys called the École de la rue de la Grange-aux Belles. It was here that he conducted his first studies of the young and growing mind. Piaget then became the Director of Studies at the J.J. Rousseau Institute. He was also a part of many organizations in his lifetime, including the International Center for Genetic Epistemology from 1955 until his death in 1980. According to the Jean Piaget Society, “He was, reportedly, the only Swiss to be invited at the Sorbonne from 1952 to 1963”. His studies and experimentation also leaked into his personal life as well. He married Valentine Châtenay at the age of twenty-seven and became the father of three children, which he studied throughout their lives to develope theories that are still used and studied today. Piaget’s interests not only revolved around the brain, but also around the thought process, and thus, genetic epistemology was born.
Dr. C. George Boeree, a retired professor from Shippensburg University and a fan of Piaget defines genetic epistemology as “the study of the development of knowledge”. Piaget’s theories mainly revolved around children and how they learn throughout the different stages or their lives. He believed that the young did not need any inspiration from adults to learn, but that they are highly receptive learners. Humans react to, interpret, and remember information differently as they mature. He believed that there are four cognitive stages, also called schema, which a person goes through in a lifetime of education: the sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and then formal operational stage. Lasting from birth to about 2 years, the sensorimotor stage describes how babies learn using their senses. Next, is the preoperational stage where children start to recognize and communicate with images and symbols. This stage lasts from approximately two years old to six or seven. From then on children are within the concrete operational stage until they’re about eleven or twelve. Kids begin to learn and remember pieces of information, think critically, and understand the views of others. Finally, after the third phase has been completed, the formal operational stage begins. It is within this stage that people begin to gain morals and form beliefs, develop hypothetical thinking, and understand cause and effect. This cognitive stage continues long into adulthood. Piaget had his own definition of learning, that he called adaptation. Basically, adaptation is the act of absorbing new information and updating old knowledge in order to function more efficiently. The two ways someone learns something new are through assimilation and accommodation. The act of using a known skill to interact with a new object or circumstance is
called assimilation. Accommodation occurs when a known skill fails to work with an object or situation, and new ability is created to assess the circumstances. These two methods of acquiring new knowledge are usually used separately, however ideally a person should utilize both equally. Piaget called this ideal state equilibrium and described it as something all should strive for. Piaget’s research on genetic epistemology made a huge splash in the world of psychology and continues to create ripples in science and education today. Many programs, such as Anchored Instruction, and His discovery of the four cognitive stages unlocked a part of the brain and learning mechanism that lead to a better understanding of the human race. With the knowledge we have because of Piaget, we are allowed to better educate the generations to come.
his teenage years, and even went on to get a Ph. D. in natural sciences at the University of Neuchâtel. Although it was not until he spent a semester at the University of Zürich that he acquired a curiosity in psychology. His scientific career in studying the minds of children began at a French school for boys called the École de la rue de la Grange-aux Belles. It was here that he conducted his first studies of the young and growing mind. Piaget then became the Director of Studies at the J.J. Rousseau Institute. He was also a part of many organizations in his lifetime, including the International Center for Genetic Epistemology from 1955 until his death in 1980. According to the Jean Piaget Society, “He was, reportedly, the only Swiss to be invited at the Sorbonne from 1952 to 1963”. His studies and experimentation also leaked into his personal life as well. He married Valentine Châtenay at the age of twenty-seven and became the father of three children, which he studied throughout their lives to develope theories that are still used and studied today. Piaget’s interests not only revolved around the brain, but also around the thought process, and thus, genetic epistemology was born.
Dr. C. George Boeree, a retired professor from Shippensburg University and a fan of Piaget defines genetic epistemology as “the study of the development of knowledge”. Piaget’s theories mainly revolved around children and how they learn throughout the different stages or their lives. He believed that the young did not need any inspiration from adults to learn, but that they are highly receptive learners. Humans react to, interpret, and remember information differently as they mature. He believed that there are four cognitive stages, also called schema, which a person goes through in a lifetime of education: the sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and then formal operational stage. Lasting from birth to about 2 years, the sensorimotor stage describes how babies learn using their senses. Next, is the preoperational stage where children start to recognize and communicate with images and symbols. This stage lasts from approximately two years old to six or seven. From then on children are within the concrete operational stage until they’re about eleven or twelve. Kids begin to learn and remember pieces of information, think critically, and understand the views of others. Finally, after the third phase has been completed, the formal operational stage begins. It is within this stage that people begin to gain morals and form beliefs, develop hypothetical thinking, and understand cause and effect. This cognitive stage continues long into adulthood. Piaget had his own definition of learning, that he called adaptation. Basically, adaptation is the act of absorbing new information and updating old knowledge in order to function more efficiently. The two ways someone learns something new are through assimilation and accommodation. The act of using a known skill to interact with a new object or circumstance is
called assimilation. Accommodation occurs when a known skill fails to work with an object or situation, and new ability is created to assess the circumstances. These two methods of acquiring new knowledge are usually used separately, however ideally a person should utilize both equally. Piaget called this ideal state equilibrium and described it as something all should strive for. Piaget’s research on genetic epistemology made a huge splash in the world of psychology and continues to create ripples in science and education today. Many programs, such as Anchored Instruction, and His discovery of the four cognitive stages unlocked a part of the brain and learning mechanism that lead to a better understanding of the human race. With the knowledge we have because of Piaget, we are allowed to better educate the generations to come.