Which among the following is not a major period of cognitive development given by Piaget?

Question

Accepted Answer

Jean Piaget, a renowned Swiss psychologist, proposed a theory of cognitive development that outlines how children's thinking evolves over time. According to Piaget, there are four major stages of cognitive development:

1. **Sensorymotor Stage**: This is the first stage, occurring from birth to about 2 years of age. During this period, infants learn about the world through their senses and actions. They develop object permanence and begin to understand that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

2. **The Pre-operational Stage**: This stage spans from approximately 2 to 7 years of age. In this phase, children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, but they do not yet understand concrete logic. They are egocentric and struggle to see things from perspectives other than their own.

3. **Cyclic Stage**: This is not a recognized stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Piaget did not propose a "Cyclic stage" as part of his framework. Therefore, Option 3 is correct as it does not belong to the list of major periods of cognitive development identified by Piaget.

4. **Formal Operations**: This is the final stage, beginning around age 11 and continuing into adulthood. During this stage, individuals develop the ability to think abstractly, logically, and systematically. They can perform hypothetical and deductive reasoning.

In summary, Option 3, the "Cyclic stage," is correct as it is not part of Piaget's established stages of cognitive development. The other options—Sensorymotor stage, The pre-operational stage, and Formal operations—are all legitimate stages within Piaget's theory.