Cognitive Development Theory | Cohen’s Article

Running head- REFLECTION1: PIAGET
Reflection1: Piaget
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REFLECTION1: PIAGET
1
Cohen’s article elaborately discusses the Cognitive Development Theory propounded by
Jean Piaget. Cohen remarks that Piaget’s theory plays an important role in the study of child
development, as it helps to understand how a child develops different abilities at different stages
of his/her life. In the discussion, Cohen describes Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development.
Prior to describing the stages, he remarks that the aspect of accommodation is observed in
Piaget’s philosophy playing a foundational role. Piaget holds that accommodation occurs when
the environment influences the individual’s activities. According to Piaget, the cognitive
development occurs through four stages, namely the sensory motor stage from birth to 2 years,
then the preoperational stage, staying roughly from 2 years to 7 years, further the concrete
operational stage, lasting from 7 years to 12 years, and finally the formal operational stage
lasting beyond 12 years of age. Piaget also defines certain characteristics and development goals
for each stage, which indicates the signs of development cognitive abilities of a child. Cohen
further remarks that the specification of the age group may not be definite, although their
sequence is fixed. According to Cohen, different children develop cognitive abilities at their own
pace. However, Piaget suggest that the development goals are nevertheless achieved by a child in
an inevitable, fixed pattern.
As for the real life application of Piaget’s theory, I can definitely relate with the stages of
development as I have observed my little nephew grow up. When he was 3 months old, he was
obsessed with his bright colored pacifier, as well as with his little fingers and toes. He played
with his limbs all day long. Further, when he was 6 months old, I used to play a little game with
him. Standing in front of a mirror and pointing to his reflection, I asked who that was, and he
used to stare at it clueless manner. After a certain time, he started recognizing himself and