Bernadette is ten years old and in the fourth grade. Describe what may be occurring in her life according to Piaget, Erikson, and Kohlberg.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Piaget proposed that cognitive capacity develops in an unvarying sequence of stages. The stage of concrete operations takes place from ages seven to eleven. Children have developed the capacity to understand logical principles that apply to concrete external objects. Bernadette may be able to appreciate that some properties of an object remain the same, despite changes in appearance. She may be able to sort objects into categories and to appreciate the perspective of another viewer. She may also be able to think about two concepts at the same time. According to Piaget's theory, Bernadette may not be able to think logically about abstractions. Erikson's theory proposes that psychosocial development occurs in eight stages, each of which focuses on one issue or crisis that is especially important at that particular time of life. The industry versus inferiority stage occurs from age six through puberty. Children focus on acquiring basic social and intellectual skills during this period. Bernadette will either develop a sense of industry and curiosity and be eager to learn, or she will feel inferior and lose interest in the tasks before her.Kohlberg's theory is concerned with the development of moral reasoning. He proposed that there are six stages of development in people's capacity to consider morals and ethics, but he did not suggest any particular ages at which each stage occurs. Many children and adolescents function at Stage 3, in which moral decisions are based on how others will feel about the action in question. Bernadette may base her moral judgments on pleasing others and getting their approval.