Human Growth and Development

Stage 1: Sensorimotor

Key Achievement

Object permanence: Understanding objects exist even when unseen (develops around 8 months). Perceptual constancy: Recognizing objects maintain their shape and size despite the distance.

Infants learn through reflexes, the senses, and movements. Schemas: Mental models of the world, to learn and adapt. These schemas are modified through: ●​ Assimilation: Integrating new information into existing schemas. ●​ Accommodation: Adjusting schemas to fit new information.

Piaget identified six sub-stages within the Sensorimotor Stage of cognitive development. These sub-stages highlight how infants progress from simple reflexes to forming mental representations, with deferred imitation (the ability to recall and copy behavior later) appearing in the final stage. 1.​ Reflex Acts (0–1 Month):

●​ Newborns respond automatically to external stimuli using reflexes. ●​ Example: A baby instinctively sucks when something touches their lips.

2.​ Primary Circular Reactions (1–4 Months): ●​ Infants repeat actions that feel good or are enjoyable, focusing on their own body. ●​ Example: Sucking their thumb, kicking their legs, or wiggling their fingers. 3.​ Secondary Circular Reactions (4–8 Months): ●​ Infants expand their actions to include objects around them. ●​ Example: Shaking a rattle to hear the sound or grabbing toys to explore. 4.​ Coordinating Secondary Schemes (8–12 Months): ●​ Babies begin to combine actions to achieve specific goals using learned behaviors. ●​ Example: Knocking over an obstacle to retrieve a toy hidden behind it. 5.​ Tertiary Circular Reactions (12–18 Months): ●​ Infants engage in trial-and-error experiments to see what happens. ●​ Example: Dropping objects from different heights to get attention or test the results. 6.​ Early Representational Thought (18–24 Months): ●​ Toddlers develop the ability to form mental representations and imitate actions after a delay ( deferred imitation ). ●​ Example: Watching an adult brush their hair and later mimicking the action on their own.

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