Developmental Psychology of Jean Piaget

One of the most remarkable figures in contemporary behavioral science is Jean Piaget, best known as a developmental psychologist but also a philosopher, logician, and educator. For over forty years, Piaget and his associates have been developing a broad and highly original theory of intellectual and perceptual development, which is scattered across an extensive bibliography. Similar to Freudian theory in some respects, Piaget's theoretical system is detailed and complex, not easily summarized in a few mathematical or verbal statements. However, unlike Freudian theory, his system has not been widely accepted by others as a whole.

The main purpose of this book is to provide an integrated overview of Piaget's achievements, detailed enough to capture the complexity of his theory and the variety of his experimental contributions. This introductory chapter aims to explain the desirability of a book on Piaget and to outline the plan and organization that the book will follow. To provide context and set the stage for a detailed description of Piaget’s system, it is useful to briefly examine the man himself, including the chronology of his life and achievements.

Jean Piaget, recognized as a developmental psychologist, is also a philosopher, logician, and educator, making him one of the most remarkable figures in contemporary behavioral science. For more than forty years, he and his associates have been constructing a broad and highly original theory of intellectual and perceptual development, scattered across an enormous bibliography. Comparable in some respects to Freudian theory, Piaget’s theoretical system is intricate and detailed, not easily encapsulated in a few mathematical or verbal statements. However, unlike Freudian theory, his system has not been widely assimilated by others as a whole.

The primary goal of this book is to offer an integrated overview of Piaget’s achievements, detailed enough to do justice to the complexity of his theory and the variety of his experimental contributions. This introductory chapter aims to explain the reasoning behind a book on Piaget, or at least why it was written, and to summarize the plan or organization which the book will follow. To put these matters in context and to set the stage for a detailed description of Piaget’s system, it may be useful to briefly examine the man himself—the chronology of his life and achievements.

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