Major Challenges to Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development

What are the major challenges to Piagets theory of cognitive development and what aspects still have value? To answer this question, Piagets theory of development should be explained along with Vygotskys theory and the connectionist theory of development, and then each should be compared with the others. Once this has been achieved the main similarities and differences will be summarized, and finally the areas of Piagets theory that have not been undermined by other theories will be reiterated. In Piagets opinion, Intelligence is not how we would class it today, he believed that intelligence covered all mental thought. He did believe however that the development of intelligence was an evolutionary matter not something that†¦show more content†¦During this stage the child starts to use symbolism so the development of language is very fast during this period, but they can not see other points of view, it is all from their own perception. Piaget believed that the child in this stage was not capable of logical thought (Lee and Gupta). In the concrete operational stage between the ages of seven and twelve, children become capable of logical thought, they also start to be able to think abstractly. However they are best suited to visible or concrete objects and things they can see (Lee and Gupta). Once the child has reached the formal operations stage from twelve years onwards it becomes more practiced at abstract processing, carrying out problem solving systematically and methodically thus completing the cognitive development process. Once a new stage is reached the learning from the previous stages is not discarded, it is used as a base for the new learning, like a scaffold to build from. It has been found that some children pass through the stages at different rates (Crain 1992), but all the stages are believed to be passed through in the same order and unless there is a medical problem to prevent the progression all the stages will be passed through before the adult brain is formed. Piaget believed that there were three processes involved in moving from one stage to the next these were assimilation accommodation and equilibrium. Assimilation is the process of converting new information soShow MoreRelatedJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development943 Words   |  4 PagesJean Piaget’s theories of cognitive development broke new ground in the field of Psychology leading to the extension of further research into the area of developmental psychology. In this essay I seek to examine these theories whilst considering their current relevance to modern psychology and society. 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