Piaget's Theory (OCR A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes

11.1.1 Piaget's Theory

Cognition and development

(Side note – for cognition and development you evaluate by using the other theories to evaluate each other)

Piaget's theory of cognition and development

Piaget argues that we understand the world around us by using schemas and the more that we experience, the more we learn.

Schema: A cognitive framework of beliefs and expectations based on past experiences.

• When we encounter something that doesn't fit our schema, this creates disequilibrium which is unpleasant.

To escape disequilibrium, when a child comes across new information, they can either assimilate it into their existing schema or, if the information does not fit easily into an existing schema, then they can use accommodation to create a new schema.