Piaget's Cognitive Theory: Child Development Case Study

Quiz 2
Question 1 - Piaget’s Cognitive Theory Examine how Piaget’s theory applies as we begin to understand that Julie goes through the phases of Piaget’s cognitive theory to explain the child’s behavior. Piaget believed that children do not just intake information to grow and mature, but a unique shift in observation of the world (Lecture notes 8). Piaget believed that children conceptualize a children’s intellectual growth (learning) from a biological perspective (Goldstein & Naglieri, 2011). Through the process, the child goes through three phases. First is sensorimotor where the infant explores the world with their senses and motor contact. (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canada, 2012, p. 264). Children learn that objects are separate and distinct
Kohlberg identified that moral reasoning comes in more stages and does not develop fully till after ages ten to eleven. He conceptualizes the sequential cognitive and developmental process of moral reasoning in children (Goldstein et. al, 2011, p. 860). The ways that children interpret their rights relates to reasoning linked to their developmental and moral development during certain ages (Peens & Louw, 2000, p. 351). Kohlberg explains that his stages emerge from a child’s growth in thinking about moral problems (Peens et al., 2000, p. 353). He believed that children usually goes through three levels of moral develop from pre-conventional to conventional to post-conventional. Within those stages, children usually go through six stages. The pre-conventional level lasts from birth to nine-years-old and during this stage, the child has not fully developed the understanding of right and wrong (Robbins et al., 2011). Most of the rules are set up by the authoritative figure and children follow the rules to avoid punishment. During the stage of obedience and punishment orientation children follow the rules to avoid punishment. The next stage is when children follow rules to earn rewards (Robbins et al., 2011, p. 277). Next, the conventional level ranges from age six through fifteen-year-old where the children start to win approval from others or conforming to the existing social order. The stage of good boy/nice girl orientation comes from children seeking social approval or positive evaluations from others. Consequently, the authority maintaining morality stage happens when children avoid harsh remarks from authoritative figures so they conform to the right actions instead of their own rules (Robbins et al., 2011, p. 277-278). The final post-conventional stage happens from age sixteen and onward. During this stage, children and adults show moral maturity, but Kohlberg believes that