Describe the criticisms of Jean Piaget’s cognitive-developmental theory

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Despite Jean Piaget’s overwhelming contributions to the field of human development, his cognitive-developmental theory has been challenged. Research indicates that Piaget underestimated the competencies of infants and preschoolers. When young children are given tasks scaled down in difficulty and relevant to their everyday experiences, their understanding appears closer to that of the older child and adult than Piaget assumed. Also, adolescents generally reach their full intellectual potential only in areas of endeavor in which they have had extensive education and experience. These findings have led many researchers to conclude that cognitive maturity depends heavily on the complexity of knowledge sampled and the individual’s familiarity with the task. Furthermore, children’s performance on Piagetian problems can be improved with training—findings that call into question Piaget’s assumption that discovery learning rather than adult teaching is the best way to foster development. Critics also point out that Piaget’s stagewise account pays insufficient attention to social and cultural influences on development. Finally, lifespan theorists—challenging Piaget’s conclusion that no major cognitive changes occur after adolescence—have proposed important transformations in adulthood.