What are the four stages of Piaget's cognitive development?

The four stages of Piaget's cognitive development are Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational.

In the Sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to about 2 years, infants learn about the world through their senses and actions. They begin to understand object permanence and develop the ability to form mental representations.

The Preoperational stage, from around ages 2 to 7, is characterized by the development of language and symbolic thinking, allowing children to engage in pretend play but still struggle with logical reasoning. They often display egocentric thinking, meaning they have difficulty seeing things from perspectives other than their own.

During the Concrete Operational stage, occurring roughly between ages 7 and 11, children become more adept at using logic but are still grounded in concrete experiences. They gain a better understanding of the concept of conservation and can perform operations mentally rather than only physically.

Finally, the Formal Operational stage, which begins around age 12 and continues into adulthood, marks the emergence of abstract thought, allowing individuals to think logically about hypothetical situations and engage in systematic planning and problem-solving.

This structured progression highlights how children's cognitive abilities evolve as they interact with their environments, providing a foundational framework for understanding human development in psychology.