Equilibration and Learning

The concept of equilibration constitutes the essential, dynamic force in Piaget's theory of the development of knowledge. The nature of the process of equilibration has been described as the achievement of an exact compensation between affirmations and negations. Three types of behavior characterize compensations to disturbance: α, β, and γ behaviors. The models of equilibration are explained and illustrated. How new achievements become integrated into ever richer, more complete structures is discussed as “equilibration majorante” or heightening equilibration. Finally, some implications the concept of equilibration has for education are presented.