Final answer:
Jean Piaget proposed a theory of cognitive development with four key stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. These stages represent the progression of a child's thinking from sensory and motor experiences to the ability to handle abstract and hypothetical ideas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jean Piaget developed a theory of cognitive development that includes four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
- The sensorimotor stage is the first, from birth through age 2, where children learn about the world through their senses and motor behavior.
- The preoperational stage occurs from ages 2 to about 7 years old, where children begin to think symbolically and use language.
- The concrete operational stage spans ages 7 to 11, with children starting to think logically about concrete events and understand concepts of conservation and mathematical transformations.
- The formal operational stage begins around age 11 and continues into adulthood, enabling individuals to reason abstractly and hypothetically.
While Piaget's stages end with the formal operational stage, some developmental psychologists argue for a fifth stage, known as postformal thought, which is characterized by an integration of logic and emotion, and understanding that decisions may be context-dependent.