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The theorist associated with cognitive development stages is Jean Piaget. He is well-known for his theory that outlines how children's cognitive abilities develop in stages as they grow. Piaget proposed four primary stages of cognitive development: the sensorimotor stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the formal operational stage. Each stage represents a different way of thinking and understanding the world, and Piaget emphasized that children actively construct their understanding through experiences and interactions.

His work has significantly influenced both psychology and education by providing insights into how children learn and think at different ages, shaping how educators approach teaching and how parents understand child development. This theory contributes to our understanding of cognitive processes in children, which is distinct from the moral reasoning focus of Kohlberg, the identity development explored by Marcia, and the psychosocial development stages proposed by Erikson.