Which of the following describes a key factor in cognitive development according to Jean Piaget?

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development is fundamentally centered on the idea that children progress through distinct stages as they grow and mature. These stages – sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational – each represent different capabilities in thinking and understanding the world. The concept of stages is crucial because it suggests that cognitive development is not a continuous process but rather occurs in specific phases where children must acquire skills and knowledge appropriate to each level before moving on to the next.

This staged approach emphasizes that children's cognitive abilities evolve gradually and systematically, allowing for various types of thinking and reasoning at each stage. While factors like emotional intelligence, social interaction, and genetic inheritance can influence development, Piaget's framework specifically highlights the importance of these identifiable stages that characterize how cognitive processes take shape over time. Thus, understanding the progressive stages is key to grasping Piaget’s contributions to developmental psychology.