Jean Piaget Biography (1896-1980)

• Theory of cognitive development
• Genetic epistemology

• Jean Piaget was born August 9, 1896
• Died September 16, 1980

By age 11, Jean Piaget had already begun his career as a researcher, writing a short paper on an albino sparrow. He continued to study the natural sciences and received his Ph.D. in Zoology from University of Neuchâtel. Piaget later developed an interest in psychoanalysis, and spent a year working at a boys' institution created by Alfred Binet.

Best known for his research on children's cognitive development, Piaget studied the intellectual development of his own three children. Piaget's theory described stages that children pass through in the development of intelligence and formal thought processes. The theory describes four stages; (1)the sensorimotor stage, (2)the preoperational stage, (3)the concrete operational stage, and (4) the formal operation stage.

Jean Piaget provided support for the idea that children think differently than adults. His research identified several important milestones in the mental development of children. His work also generated interest in cognitive and developmental psychology. Piaget's theories are widely accepted and studied today by students of both psychology and education.

Piaget held many chair positions throughout his career and conducted research in psychology and genetics. He created the International Center for Genetic Epistemology in 1955 and served as director until his death.

Piaget's theories continue to be studied in the areas of psychology, sociology, education, and genetics. His work contributed to our understanding of the cognitive development of children.

• Bringuier, J.C. (1980). Conversations with Jean Piaget. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Evans, R. (1973). Jean Piaget, the man and his ideas. New York: Dutton.
• Piaget, J. (1952). Autobiography. In E. Boring (ed) History of psychology in autobiography. Vol. 4. Worcester, MA: Clark University Press.

• Piaget, J. (1936) Origins of intelligence in the child. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
• Piaget, J. (1945) Play, dreams and imitation in childhood. London: Heinemann.
• Piaget, J. (1970) Main trends in psychology, London: George Allen & Unwin.