Jean Piaget

Where did he get his PhD?
In 1918, Piaget received his Doctorate in Science from the University of Neuchâtel, in Switzerland.

Where have they taught / worked?
Piaget occupied several chairs throughout his career, including: - Research Director, Institut Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Geneva from 1921 to 1925 - Professor of Psychology, Sociology and History of Science at University of Neuchâtel from 1925 to 1929 - History of scientific thinking at University of Geneva from 1929 to 1939 - Director of the International Bureau of Education from 1929 to 1967 - Professor of Expiramental Psychology and Sociology at University of Lausanne from 1938 to 1951 - Professor of Sociology at University of Geneva from 1939 to 1952, then genetic and experimental psychology from 1940 to 1971 - Professor of Genetic Psychology at Sorbonne, Paris from 1952 to 1963 - In 1955, he created and directed until his death the International Center for Genetic Epistemology. Piaget also received honorary doctorate from Harvard (1936), Manchester (1959), Cambridge (1962), Bristol (1970), CNAA (1975), and 26 other Universities [piaget.org].

Interesting facts about Jean Piaget:
His first article was a short notice on his sighting of an albino sparrow. Piaget was a well-known malacologist [mollusk specialist] by the time he graduated from finishing school. Piaget was influential in bringing women into experimental psychology, including Bärbel Inhelder, his most important collaborator.

What things is he best known for?
He is best know for his work in developmental psychology and what he named genetic epistemology, the study of the development of knowledge.

What are his 3 most important publications?
It would be impossible to define which of Piaget's publications were the most important, as he published over 50 books and about 500 articles. But, some of the most influential books are: The Moral Judgement of the Child, 1932 The Psychology of Intelligence, 1947 The Psychology of the Child, 1966

Who are their most frequent collaborators?
Two people were probably his most frequent collaboraters. The first was one of his students, whom he eventually married, Valentine Châtenay. She gave birth to 3 children who immediately became the focus of intense observation. Out of this observation and research came three books on genetic epistemology. The second and more frequent collaborator was Bärbel Inhelder. She was Piaget's research companion for 50 years and contributed much to psychology.

What (in)famous / apocryphal stories exist about this person?
When Piaget was in high school, he published multiple articles about mollusks. Many adults read these articles and were surprised to find out that he was a youth, as he was assumed to be an expert malacologist.

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