Piaget's Stage-Independent Theory of Development.  Children progress through many stages until they reach an end state.  The end state is the child developing into a scientific reasoner.  The statement, "The more knowledge you obtain, the better your survival,"  is a  naturistic theory, which closely resembles Darwin's ideas.  According to Piaget these adolescents are active learners in their environments. 

2. Basic Components of Theory

• The maturation of the nervous system, a biological component.
• Experiences gained through interaction with physical reality.
• The influence of the social environment.
• The child's active participation in adapting to environmental experiences and in constructing his or her knowledge out of these experiences.
 

Biological factors, environmental and experimental factors, social factors, emotions and motivation all play a role in the cognitive development of the adolescent.  

4. Positive Effects of Divorce

After a divorce if the adolescent is kept in a mentally stimulating environment, according to Piaget, they should develop normally.  Esentially a divorce is an event in their environment that they can interact wtih as they wish.  

5. Negative Effects of Divorce

After a divorce, if the adolescents environment is changed, it slows down the entire stage theory, which can result in slower maturation.  The parents ability to control the environment their children interact with may be neglected as a result of the single parent taking on additional roles.  For example the housewife, now finds herself out looking for a job to financially support the family, leaving less time to interact with her children.  Until the formal operation stage children do not understand the reasoning of a divorce.  They assume that the events prior to the divorce, such as them breaking a lamp, is the reason Daddy has left the house, and caused the divorce.  These children end up blaming themselves.  

6. How to Create a Positive Outcome

• Continuous environmental stimulation to promote positive learning and prevent large upsets in the stage independent theory of  development.
• Therapy with a qualified psychologist can help the child express their feelings in relation to the divorce environment.
• Explain the divorce in operational levels that are congruent to the child's current level.