Sensorimotor stage

Definition

The sensorimotor stage is the first of the four stages in Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development, occurring from birth to about 2 years old. During this stage, infants learn about the world primarily through their senses and motor activities, leading to the development of object permanence and symbolic thought. This stage lays the foundation for later cognitive development as children begin to understand that their actions can cause changes in their environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The sensorimotor stage is divided into six substages, each representing different ways infants interact with their environment and acquire knowledge.
2. During this stage, infants develop basic motor skills, such as reaching and grasping, which are crucial for exploring their surroundings.
3. One of the key milestones during the sensorimotor stage is the achievement of object permanence, typically around 8 to 12 months of age.
4. Infants also engage in repetitive actions known as circular reactions, which help them learn about cause and effect relationships.
5. By the end of the sensorimotor stage, children begin to develop symbolic thought, which allows them to use language and mental imagery to represent objects and experiences.

Review Questions

• How do infants progress through the substages of the sensorimotor stage, and what key developments occur at each substage?
  • Infants progress through six substages of the sensorimotor stage, each representing a different level of cognitive complexity. In the first two substages (reflexes and primary circular reactions), infants primarily rely on reflexive actions and repeat pleasurable behaviors. By the fourth substage (coordination of secondary circular reactions), they begin to coordinate multiple actions to achieve goals. The final substages mark the development of object permanence and symbolic thought, indicating a significant leap in cognitive abilities as they start to understand their environment more comprehensively.
• Discuss the implications of object permanence development during the sensorimotor stage for a child's understanding of their environment.
  • The development of object permanence during the sensorimotor stage is crucial for a child's understanding of their environment. Once infants realize that objects continue to exist even when out of sight, they start to explore and engage more actively with their surroundings. This newfound awareness allows them to search for hidden objects and anticipate the movement of people or things, leading to more complex interactions and relationships with their environment. It also lays a critical foundation for later cognitive processes such as memory and problem-solving.
• Evaluate how experiences in the sensorimotor stage influence later cognitive development as children transition to more advanced stages.
  • Experiences during the sensorimotor stage significantly influence later cognitive development by establishing foundational skills that support more advanced thinking processes. For instance, the ability to form mental representations through symbolic thought enables children to engage in imaginative play and develop language skills in the subsequent preoperational stage. Additionally, problem-solving abilities cultivated through exploration and interaction during this stage set the groundwork for logical reasoning in later stages. The way children learn to manipulate their environment shapes their approach to learning and understanding complex concepts as they grow older.

Related terms

object permanence: The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard, which develops during the sensorimotor stage.

cognitive schemas: Mental structures or frameworks that help organize and interpret information, evolving throughout the sensorimotor stage as infants interact with their environment.

preoperational stage: The second stage of cognitive development that follows the sensorimotor stage, characterized by symbolic thinking but lacking logical reasoning.