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Chapter 6: Problem 6

Analyze Piaget's account of adolescent cognitive development.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Jean Piaget's account of adolescent cognitive development, known as the formal operational stage, asserts that adolescents develop the ability to think in abstract terms, reason logically, and deal with hypothetical situations, distinguishing their thought process from that of children. While some researchers criticize the rigid age-specific stages and the concept of staged-development, the influence of Piaget's work on child development and education cannot be denied.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Jean Piaget and His Work

Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist known for his pioneering work in child development. Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children move through four different stages of mental development. His theory is very broad, from birth through adolescence, and includes concepts of language learning, moral understanding, and memory.
02

Understand Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

Piaget's stages of cognitive development are: 1) Sensorimotor stage (Birth to 2 years old), 2) Preoperational stage (2 to 7 years old), 3) Concrete operational stage (7 to 11 years old), and 4) Formal operational stage (12 years old and up).
03

Focus on the Formal Operational Stage

The formal operational stage is the fourth and final stage of Jean Piaget's theory and it begins at approximately 12 years of age and continues into adulthood. This period of cognitive development is characterized by the ability to think abstractly and to reason logically. Piaget believed that what distinguishes the adolescent's thought from the child's thought is the capacity to reason hypothetically.
04

Evaluation of Piaget's Account

Piaget's theory has been influential globally, driving legislation to promote more engaging educational paradigms. However, his theory has its share of criticisms. For instance, many researchers believe cognitive development does not occur in stages as he suggested, but rather is a gradual and continuous process. Some also criticize the age ranges Piaget determined for each stage of cognitive development, suggesting these stages manifest at different ages for different individuals.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe the dangers that adolescent sexual practices can present. One out of four adolescents contracts an STI before graduating from high school. AIDS is the most serious of the STIs. Safe sex practices or abstinence can prevent AIDS, but adolescents often ignore these strategies.

Describe major threats to adolescents from substance use and abuse. The use of illegal drugs and alcohol is prevalent among adolescents as a way to find pleasure, avoid pressure, or gain the approval of peers. Some drugs popular among adolescents are addictive, producing either a physical or a psychological dependence. Binge drinking is a problem for drinkers and those around them, causing brain damage in the drinker and irresponsible or dangerous behavior toward others.The negative health effects of tobacco use are well-established. Despite this, adolescents often smoke to enhance their images or emulate adults.

Explain the relationship between brain development and cognitive growth in adolescents. Changes in the brain during adolescence, including the ongoing development of the prefrontal cortex, bring significant advances in cognitive abilities. For all its growth, though, the adolescent brain is not yet fully mature, leading to the conclusion that people younger than age 18 should not be subject to the death penalty.

Describe major factors that affect adolescent school performance.

Analyze how the parent-child relationship changes during adolescence.
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