JEAN PIAGET: THE

THEORY OF COGNITIVE
DEVELOPMENT
Introduction:
◦ A Swiss psychologist and developmental biologist
◦ Created the theory of Stages of Development or
Cognitive Development.
Jean Piaget
◦ Comprises of four stages:
◦ Sensorimotor (18-24 months),
◦ Preoperational (2-7 years old),
◦ Concrete operational (7-11 years old),
◦ and Formal operational (12+).

◦ Considered the fact that a child may manifest

characteristics of multiple stages.
Application in the work area:
◦ It can be applied by a psychiatric nurse especially by sensitively acknowledging the different
considerations to be considered when talking to a psychiatric patient especially when doing an
interview or assessment, to acknowledge certain behaviors that is normally present at specific
cognitive stages that may be absent to other stages

◦ Nurses would then be able to condition the environment specific to the client’s need to better
influence the effectiveness of their learning and thereby facilitate progress rather than
regression in the accomplishment of developmental tasks.
How the theory helps nurses:
◦ First, this can be applied when we are doing an interview or assessment to psychiatric patients.

◦ provides better assessment of the client’s condition whatever developmental stage they are in. The nurse
then would be able to plan for proper intervention based on the learning needs and opportunities of the
client at a certain stage.

◦ , for example, it is important to select questions that allow the patient to synthesize and analyze the new
and more realistic view of his/her condition so that she/he can restructure her thought patterns.

◦ So, by using Piaget theory, nurses may have a better understanding of what approach to use, what
interventions to implement, and how to develop a plan of care.
References:
◦ Cherry, K. (2020). The 4 stages of cognitive development. Retrieved last February 17, 2022 from https://
www.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-2795457
◦ A.Green. 2004. Application of Jean Piaget’s Theory of Human Development of Nursing Children in an
Adult Intensive Therapy Unit. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii
/0266612X9190049W?via%3Dihub
◦ Wayne, G. (2019). Anxiety – Nursing diagnosis & care plan. Nurseslabs. Retrieved from: https://
nurseslabs.com/anxiety/
◦ Toress, A., Vaamonde, A., & Olivares, J. (2007) An analysis of the cognitive deficit of schizophrenia
based on the Piaget developmental theory. Comprehensive Psychiatry 48(4):376-9.
DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2006.12.006