Jean Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development Jean considered himself a genetic epistemologist who focuses on "How we learn." Piaget's theory proposed by different stages of a child where the transition from one stage to another follows a sequence. While some of his ideas have been supported by more correlational and experimental methodologies, others have not. For example, Piaget believed that biological development was the driving force for moving from one cognitive stage to the next. Data from cross-sectional studies of children from various Western cultures seem to support this assertion for the stages of sensorimotor, preoperative and concrete operations (Renner, Stafford, Lawson, McKinnon, Friot & Kellogg, 1976). Say no to plagiarism. . Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essay Eric Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development He developed his theory much later than Piaget, but he also dealt with development with eight unique stages during a person's life. New obstacles characterized each stage; how the person overcomes obstacles at a given moment determines the consequences. Therefore, the designation of stages was done keeping in mind the likely outcomes. Eric's theory focused on identity, isolation, trust issues, insecurity, and guilt at different ages, ranging from an infant to twelve years old. Differences Erik's theory focuses on the entire process of life development in eight stages. It states that the environment interacts with an individual to influence development. In each of the phases, we encounter a crisis and success depends on how we meet the challenges. The skills acquired during progression to another stage reduce the insecurity of the individual. These challenges occur throughout an individual's lifespan, from early childhood to old age. Piaget's theory of cognitive development examines a person's thought processes. Its focus is primarily on the early stages below the age of twelve. The development of cognitive skills occurs from early childhood to the operational phase (above 12 years) where abstract thoughts take on their full meaning. The naming of the stages represents the cognitive competence acquired in children and adults. Despite the use of steps, they both differ in the timing aspect; Erikson's theory holds that the first stage ends at the age of one, while Piaget posits that the first stage ends at the age of two. Their views on the developmental process show remarkable differences in late adolescence. Piaget considers the adolescent to be a rational being with rational thoughts. Erik posits that at this stage the adolescent is focused on independence in decision-making, relationships, and self-discovery. Piaget's steps emanated from research and observation while in Erikson's case they came from experience. Since Erickson belongs to the psychoanalytic school of thought, he emphasizes that the ego is constantly changing, constantly altering the personality of the individual. Piaget focuses only on changes in his four-stage theory, completely ignoring the ego in his analysis. Erikson uses social context as the basis of his theory. Piaget bases his theory on the hypothesis that the child's senses and abilities are determinants of development. Similarities These two theories examine the issue of developmental psychology using