Jean Piaget

1896 - 1980

Jean Piaget was born in Switzerland and by age 10 had already begun his professional career as a researcher and writer. He was interested in biology and wrote a paper on the sighting of an albino sparrow that propelled his interest in the scientific study of nature.

He studied natural sciences at the University of Neuchâtel where he obtained a Ph.D. in Zoology. During his tenure as a professor of child psychology, he conducted many research studies on Genetic Epistemology (the theory of knowledge on Genetics). He was interested in the role of genetics and child development, and is most well known for his Theory of Cognitive Development.

In this theory, Piaget introduced the stages that a child passes through on his or her way to the development of formal though processes. His theory has been well accepted and included in every developmental text in psychology and education. He died in Geneva at the age of 84.