According to Piaget's theory, what do individuals strive to achieve?

In Piaget's theory of cognitive development, individuals strive to maintain cognitive equilibrium, which refers to a balance between their existing knowledge and new experiences. As people encounter new information or situations, they may experience cognitive dissonance, where their current understanding does not align with their experiences. To resolve this dissonance, they adapt by either assimilating new information into their existing frameworks or accommodating their understanding to incorporate new concepts. This process helps individuals achieve a stable state of understanding, where they can effectively navigate their environment and learn from their experiences.

Maintaining cognitive equilibrium is crucial because it supports ongoing learning and development. It enables individuals to build on previous knowledge and scaffold new learning effectively, promoting cognitive growth throughout various stages of life.