Bryan Morris

AP Psych

Ch. 9 FRQ

Piaget shows the Cognitive development theory in people from infancy to adulthood. The

first Piaget stage is Sensorimotor. The Sensorimotor stage is when newborns-2 year old’s learn

about their surroundings through their senses. When I was an infant, I started to learn about my

environment through chewing on my toys.

The next stage in the Piaget cycle is the Preoperational stage. The Preoperational stage is

when 2-7 year olds start to make sense of the world, though they think the world revolves around

them. In kindergarten, the teacher showed me a ball in her hand then hid it behind her back, yet I

knew the ball was behind her.

7-11 year olds start to begin the 3rd Piaget stage called the Concrete operational stage.

Concrete operational is when kids start to think logically, though not abstractly. When I was 10, I

saw my mom transferred food from a plate into a container for my lunch box, and I knew the

same amount of food from the plate was in the container.

12 year olds and older reach the final Piaget stage called the Formal Operational stage.

The Formal Operational stage is when people start thinking about abstract concepts. At this

stage, I started to look into more about the existence of God when I was 16 and try to find

answers to questions such as, how can people go to heaven? Why does God allow suffering for

everyone, even seemingly innocent people? How old is the Earth?

 Lawrence Kohlberg also created a moral development theory in 3 stages. The first stage

is the Preconventional stage. The Preconventional stage is when infants-9 year olds initiate

actions based on if they will be punished, or if it satisfies their needs. When my mom baked a

cake for my family when I was 8, I wanted to eat the cake now, but I didn’t want to make mom

upset for eating the cake to early so all of my family members will get a chance to eat.

The second Kohlberg stage is the Conventional stage. The conventional stage is when

early adolescents make decisions based on the approval of their peers or on respected authority

figure. When I was in middle school, I made sure to get good grades and cause no trouble so my

mom will be proud of me.

The last stage of the Kohlberg development theory is the Postconventionl level. The

Postconventional stage is when people make decisions based on their principles and for the good

of others, even if it breaks the rules. In high school, I saw students secretly share Etest answers to

the next class period students so they won’t fail their class and get a good enough grade to

graduate.

Another theory of development was made by Erik Erikson, which had 8 stages. The firsy

stage is based on Trust or Mistrust. This stage occurs for newborns and establishes trusting

people to supply their needs. When I was a baby, I would only be comfortable if my parents or

any woman held me, any other guy would make me cry.

The second stage is based on Autonomy, Shame, and Doubt. This stage is when 1-3 year

olds start to have more control over their own body. When I was a baby, I first started having

autonomy when I learned to potty train.

 The third stage is Initiative or Guilt. This stage is when 3-6 year olds start to have a

natural curiosity of their surroundings. In Kindergarten, I started asking my mom if Santa was

real.

The fourth stage is Industry or inferiority. 6-11 year old kids strive to complete tasks and

perform as well as our peers. While I was a third grader, I was happy to perform well in kickball

with my classmates.

The fifth stage is Identity or Role confusion. This stage is when teens discover their

social identity that is most comfortable with us. Ever since I was a 14 year old, I acted one way

with my mom, another with my dad, another with my classmates, with my teachers, and with my

closest friends.

The sixth stage is the intimacy or isolation stage. This stage is when 20 to 30 year olds

balance work and relationships. I would imagine I would stake my free time from my future job

to plan dates with my future wife.

The seventh stage is the Generativity or stagnation stage. This stage is when 40 to 50 year

olds start to evaluate their life. When I’m 40, I’m gonna check if I’m leading a Christian life and

efficiently leading my family as a father.

The last stage is the integrity or despair stage. In this stage, 60+ year olds look back at

their lives and see if they are satisfied with their decisions. When I’m 60, I hope to retire soon

and live a peaceful life with my future wife and satisfied my decisions and former career.

Throughout my life, my body has been experiencing changes. As an infant, I started

growing hair. As a child, I started losing and growing teeth. As a teen, I started to have facial

hair. I would expect as an adult my hair would turn grey.

 Although my quiet personality is similar to my mom, my peers made more of an

influence to me. I adopted mannerisms from closest friends such as puns, conservative view, and

a politically incorrect sense of humor. I also adopted my peers interests such as musicals, video

games, and literature.

Infant
Child
Late teens