Which of the following reasons led to the criticism of Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

• A. Piaget emphasized the role of language over action in cognitive development.
• B. Piaget's theory was criticized for focusing too much on cultural and social influences.
• C. Piaget's theory was widely praised for its accurate depiction of adult cognitive processes.
• D. Piaget underestimated the abilities of young children by suggesting they could not perform certain cognitive tasks until reaching specific developmental stages.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the core of Piaget's theory, which proposes that children move through distinct stages of cognitive development, each characterized by specific abilities and limitations.
2. Step 2: Recognize that one major criticism of Piaget's theory is that it tends to underestimate young children's cognitive abilities, suggesting they cannot perform certain tasks until they reach a particular developmental stage.
3. Step 3: Note that Piaget emphasized the role of action and interaction with the environment in cognitive development, rather than language alone, so the criticism about overemphasizing language is inaccurate.
4. Step 4: Understand that Piaget's theory is often critiqued for underestimating cultural and social influences, not for focusing too much on them, which contrasts with some other developmental theories like Vygotsky's.
5. Step 5: Realize that while Piaget's theory provides valuable insights into childhood development, it is not primarily concerned with adult cognitive processes, so praise for adult cognition depiction is not a criticism.