Correct option is B
According to Jean Piaget, cognitive development occurs in four distinct stages—sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational—which are universal patterns that all children pass through in the same sequence, regardless of culture or background. Piaget emphasized that while the specific content of learning may vary across cultures, the stages of cognitive development and the ways in which children think at different ages are consistent across humanity. This universality underscores the biological and maturational basis of his theory, although the timing may vary slightly depending on individual and environmental factors.
Information Booster:
- Piaget’s stages are sensorimotor (0-2 years), preoperational (2-7 years), concrete operational (7-11 years), and formal operational (11+ years).
- Each stage reflects qualitatively different ways of thinking and understanding the world.
- The sequence of stages is invariant, meaning all children progress through them in the same order.
- His theory emphasizes active construction of knowledge through interaction with the environment.
- The stages are based on biological maturation and experience, making them universally applicable.
Additional Knowledge:
- Genetic codes (Option A): While biological maturation influences development, Piaget focused on cognitive interaction with the environment.
- Universal patterns (Option B): Correct. The stages apply universally, although cultural context may influence specific learning experiences within those stages.
- Miniature adult minds (Option C): Incorrect. Piaget explicitly argued that children think differently from adults, not simply less competently.
- Cultural variation (Option D): Cultural practices can influence specific learning content, but the sequence and nature of cognitive stages remain universal according to Piaget.