Year 1 -
Undergrad
PS51005B: The
Psychology of the Person
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Session Aims
Understand Piaget’s concepts of schemas, assimilation, and accommodation
Learn the four stages of cognitive development
Evaluate empirical critiques of Piaget’s theory
Key Concepts
Schemas: Mental structures used to organise knowledge (e.g., grasping, classifying, counting)
Assimilation: Fitting new information into existing schemas (e.g., All furry animals = “dog”)
Accommodation: Adjusting schemas to fit new information (e.g., Learning the difference between
a dog and a cat)
Equilibration: Balance between assimilation and accommodation
Exercise 1
What’s a schema?
Difference between assimilation and accommodation?
Provide examples from daily life
Piaget’s Four Stages of Cognitive Development
1. Sensorimotor Stage (0–2 years)
Interaction-based learning develops object permanence and early symbolic thought.
2. Pre-operational Stage (2–7 years)
Undergrad
PS51005B: The
Psychology of the Person
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Session Aims
Understand Piaget’s concepts of schemas, assimilation, and accommodation
Learn the four stages of cognitive development
Evaluate empirical critiques of Piaget’s theory
Key Concepts
Schemas: Mental structures used to organise knowledge (e.g., grasping, classifying, counting)
Assimilation: Fitting new information into existing schemas (e.g., All furry animals = “dog”)
Accommodation: Adjusting schemas to fit new information (e.g., Learning the difference between
a dog and a cat)
Equilibration: Balance between assimilation and accommodation
Exercise 1
What’s a schema?
Difference between assimilation and accommodation?
Provide examples from daily life
Piaget’s Four Stages of Cognitive Development
1. Sensorimotor Stage (0–2 years)
Interaction-based learning develops object permanence and early symbolic thought.
2. Pre-operational Stage (2–7 years)
