National Counselor Exam (NCE)

Which cognitive development theory includes the stages of sensory-motor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational?

1. Erikson's psychosocial development

2. Pavlov's classical conditioning

3. Piaget's developmental stages

4. Kohlberg's moral development

The correct answer is: Piaget's developmental stages

The theory that includes the stages of sensory-motor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational is Piaget's developmental stages. Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, is renowned for his work in cognitive development, proposing that children move through four distinct stages as they grow and learn. The sensory-motor stage occurs from birth to about two years of age, where infants learn through their senses and actions. The preoperational stage follows, from roughly ages two to seven, characterized by the development of language and imagination but limited logical reasoning. The concrete operational stage, which spans from ages seven to eleven, involves the beginnings of logical thought and the ability to perform operations mentally rather than just physically. Finally, the formal operational stage, beginning around age twelve, enables individuals to think abstractly, logically, and systematically. In contrast, Erikson's psychosocial development focuses on emotional and social development across eight stages, rather than cognitive stages. Pavlov's classical conditioning pertains to behavioral psychology and does not concern cognitive stages of development. Kohlberg's moral development theory outlines the stages of moral reasoning and ethics, unrelated to cognitive processing in the manner that Piaget's theory addresses. Thus, the correct answer directly corresponds to Piaget's identification of