Psychological theories
Another strand in the progressive tradition is that of psychological theories of development, from Herbart and Freud to Piaget and Bruner. Piaget’s theory of intellectual development focuses on two central aspects of the progressive view of childhood development focuses on two central aspects of the progressive view of childhood. First, on the centrality of children’s experience, especially physical interaction with the world. Second, on the unfolding logic of children’ thought, which differs from that of the adult. These are intertwined, as the child represents its experiences and actions mentally, and transforms these representations by means of the developing sequence of logical operation.
Piaget is a constructivist, proposing that children create their knowledge of world. However, he also believes that in the creation and unfolding of their knowledge, children are constrained by absolute conceptual structures, especially those of mathematics and logic. Thus Piaget accepts an absolutist view of knowledge, especially mathematics. He also provides psychological support for the progressive experience. The notion of children’s mind as unfolding during development and the importance of experience. The notion of children’s development reaching stages of ‘readiness’ gained theoretical support, from Piaget’s work.