Jean Piaget

Pioneers of Human Behaviour: Jean Piaget
A Gateway to His Life, Theories, and Legacy

Jean Piaget transformed our understanding of childhood. At a time when many believed children were simply “miniature adults,” Piaget revealed that they think, reason, and learn in fundamentally different ways at each stage of development. His groundbreaking theory of cognitive development changed the way we teach, parent, and study the human mind.

This concise yet powerful volume distils Piaget’s life’s work into clear, engaging chapters. From his beginnings as a young biologist in Switzerland to his pioneering research on how children construct knowledge, you’ll discover the man behind the theories — and why his ideas remain essential in education and psychology today.

Alongside an accessible exploration of Piaget’s theories, you’ll discover:
• How his four stages of cognitive development revolutionised education.
• Why his ideas about assimilation, accommodation, and equilibration still guide learning today.
• The role of play as a vital driver of intellectual growth.
• How his meticulous studies of his own children reshaped developmental psychology.
• The criticisms and refinements that have emerged since his time.

Part biography, part theory guide, and part reflection on legacy, this book offers both a portrait of Piaget as a person and a gateway into his enduring influence. Written to be engaging without oversimplification, it is ideal for students, educators, therapists, and curious readers alike.

The Pioneers of Human Behaviour series celebrates the lives and legacies of psychology’s greatest minds, presenting timeless insights in a format designed to inspire, inform, and endure.