At what age range does formal operational thinking begin, according to Piaget?

Formal operational thinking, according to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, begins at approximately 11 years of age and extends into adulthood. This stage is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, logically, and systematically. Children in this stage can engage in hypothetical reasoning and understand complex concepts that require reasoning beyond the immediate physical experience. They can formulate and test hypotheses, make predictions, and consider multiple perspectives at once.

Other developmental stages that occur before formal operations include sensorimotor (0-2 years), preoperational (2-7 years), and concrete operational (7-11 years). Each of these stages represents different cognitive abilities and ways of thinking, which gradually become more complex. By the time a child reaches the formal operational stage, they have developed the capacity to think about abstract ideas, rather than being limited to concrete experiences.