Case Study Jean Piaget

I chose to study Jean Piaget because I enjoyed leaning about his theories involving childhood development. Piaget is most known for four stages of mental development. I have always been interested in the field of psychology especially with children. After researching Jean Piaget, I now understand the cognitive development of children much more.

Background

Jean Piaget was born on August 9th, 1896 in Neuchatel, Switzerland. Piaget was the first child of Rebecca Jackson and Arthur Piaget. Arthur was a professor of medieval literature at the University of Neuchatel, Rebecca was a stay at home mother. Piaget took an early interest in sciences especially zoology which his mother credited to his own neurotic nature. He later found a passion in psychoanalysis

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who also studied cognitive development. Kant proposed the concept that humans are hardwired to understand. The knowledge around the world is due to a combination of perceptions and innate abilities. Piaget agreed to this theory however he attempted to prove Kant was wrong. Piaget later theorised that these categories were not innate but rather developed through qualitative stages and are learned over time as a child develops.

Piaget's research unearthed a new understanding of childhood cognitive development. Childhood psychologist David Elkind credits his research to Piaget. Elkind's research is mainly based on Piaget's theories which focus on cognitive, perceptual, and social development in children and adolescents, as well as the causes and effects of stress on children, adolescents, and families.

Conclusion

Jean Piaget's research has provided the future childhood psychologists with a means for their own research. Without the fundamental theory that Piaget created the understanding of childhood development may have never been discovered. His theories have helped improve the teaching for future generations of children and for teachers to understand the reasoning behind the way children think. Thanks to Jean Piaget, childhood psychology has an open window