Sensorimotor Stage
Definition
The sensorimotor stage is the first stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development where infants learn about the world through their senses and motor activities from birth until approximately 2 years old.
Analogy
Imagine being dropped off in a new city with no map or GPS. You'd have to explore and learn about the city through your senses, like seeing landmarks, hearing street sounds, and feeling the pavement under your feet. That's what infants are doing in the sensorimotor stage.
Related terms
Object Permanence: The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or otherwise sensed. This is a key concept developed during the sensorimotor stage.
Preoperational Stage: The second stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development (from about 2 - 7 years old), where children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols.
Reflexes: Automatic responses or actions programmed by non-cortical brain centers. These are crucial for survival during early infancy which falls under sensorimotor stage.
"Sensorimotor Stage" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (3)
- Which of the following is an example of a lack of object permanence in the sensorimotor stage?
- What is the main cognitive development in the sensorimotor stage according to Piaget?
- When does the sensorimotor stage typically end in a child's development?
Resources
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