A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

In Piaget's preoperational stage, what is a notable characteristic of children's thinking?

1. They can reason abstractly

2. They exhibit egocentric thinking

3. They understand hypothetical situations

4. They can manipulate variables mentally

The correct answer is: They exhibit egocentric thinking

During Piaget's preoperational stage, which typically occurs from approximately ages 2 to 7, a notable characteristic of children's thinking is egocentrism. This refers to the difficulty children have in seeing the world from perspectives other than their own. They tend to assume that others share their viewpoints and experiences, often failing to recognize that different individuals may have different thoughts, feelings, or interpretations of the same situation. In this stage, children are still developing their cognitive abilities. Their thinking is often intuitive and based on personal experiences rather than logical reasoning. As a result, their egocentric mentality limits their ability to engage in perspectives beyond their own, which is a crucial aspect of cognitive development as outlined by Piaget. This fundamental aspect of egocentrism is evident when children complete tasks or answer questions about others' thoughts, where they may incorrectly assert that everyone thinks as they do. The other characteristics mentioned, such as abstract reasoning, understanding hypothetical situations, and manipulating variables mentally, are primarily associated with later stages of cognitive development as proposed by Piaget, particularly the formal operational stage, which begins around age 11.