Piaget’s theory describes how children actively build knowledge as they interact with the world. This lesson introduces the ideas behind his stage theory and the sensorimotor period, which spans birth to about age two.
Piaget viewed children as active learners who try to make sense of their experiences. A schema is a mental framework used to organize and interpret information. A child might have a schema for birds that includes feathers, wings, and a beak.
All flashcards
What is a schema?
A mental framework that helps a person organize and interpret information from the environment.
How do assimilation and accommodation differ?
Assimilation adds information that fits an existing schema. Accommodation revises a schema when new information does not fit.
What is object permanence?
The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight.
What happens during tertiary circular reactions?
Toddlers intentionally try variations of actions to learn about objects and the effects of their behavior.
What are symbolic thought and deferred imitation?
Symbolic thought is mentally representing something absent. Deferred imitation is repeating an observed action after a delay.
Quiz questions
What is a schema?Answer: A mental framework used to organize and interpret information.
A child learns that a penguin belongs in the bird category despite not flying. Which process best describes revising the category to include this new information?Answer: Accommodation, because the existing schema is revised to fit new information.
Which behavior best illustrates a primary circular reaction?Answer: An infant repeatedly sucks their thumb.
What characterizes secondary circular reactions?Answer: Infants repeat actions that produce effects on objects or events.
How do infants primarily learn during the sensorimotor stage?Answer: Through sensory experiences and motor actions.
Based on Lifespan Development by Diana Riser, Rose Spielman, David Biek (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.