Piaget Described the Preoperational Child as an Egocentric, Animistic Thinker

question 141

Essay

Piaget described the preoperational child as an egocentric, animistic thinker. He also believed the preoperational child to be incapable of conservation. Describe Piaget's basis for his conclusions, and explain why current developmentalists believe preoperational children to be more cognitively capable than Piaget maintained.

---

Definitions:

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain's cerebrum, responsible for complex functions such as thought, perception, and memory.

Limbic System

A complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involved in emotions and drives.

Brain Functioning

Refers to how different parts of the brain operate and work together to support thoughts, behaviors, and bodily functions.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical analysis of results collected from multiple scientific studies.