Psychology Unit 3: Sensorimotor Stage

Questions and Answers

What is the age range for the sensorimotor stage?

0-2 years

What are the limits of the sensorimotor stage?

Lacks object permanence (understanding that things continue to exist even when not seen, heard, or felt)

What are some abilities of the sensorimotor stage?

Uses senses and motor skills to explore and develop cognitively

What is an example of the sensorimotor stage?

Kids like to play with food at this stage Signup and view all the answers

What is the age range for the preoperational stage?

2-7 years Signup and view all the answers

What are the limits of the preoperational stage?

Can't perform operations, intuitive thinking vs. logical reasoning, egocentric thinking, animistic thinking Signup and view all the answers

What is conservation?

The principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects Signup and view all the answers

What is reversibility?

The capacity to think through a series of steps and then mentally reverse direction, returning to the starting point Signup and view all the answers

What is the age range for concrete operational?

7-11 years Signup and view all the answers

What are the limits for concrete operational?

Cannot think abstractly and hypothetically, thinking tied to concrete, tangible objects and events Signup and view all the answers

What are some abilities for concrete operational?

Can perform 'operations' on concrete objects, understands conservation, less egocentric, can think logically about concrete objects and events Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of concrete operational?

Children at this stage begin to question the existence of Santa Signup and view all the answers

What is the age range for formal operational?

11 and over Signup and view all the answers

What are the limits of formal operational?

Adolescent egocentrism at the beginning of this stage, with related problems of the personal fable and imaginary audience Signup and view all the answers

What are some abilities of formal operational?

Can think abstractly and hypothetically Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of formal operational?

Children at this age show great concern for physical appearance Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the preoperational stage?

Children will believe that the moon follows them Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensorimotor Stage

Age range: 0 to 2 years.
Characterized by lack of object permanence; infants don't understand that objects continue to exist independently of their perception.
Children explore their environment using their senses and motor skills.
Common behavior: engaging with food as a means of exploration.

Preoperational Stage

Age range: 2 to 7 years.
Limitations include inability to perform operations, relying more on intuitive thought rather than logical reasoning.
Egocentric thinking is prevalent, making it difficult for children to adopt different perspectives.
Children exhibit animistic thinking, attributing life-like qualities to inanimate objects.

Conservation

Principle stating that certain properties (mass, volume, number) remain unchanged despite alterations in the object's form.

Reversibility

Ability to conceptualize the steps in a process and mentally return to the starting point, indicating advanced cognitive processing.

Concrete Operational Stage

Age range: 7 to 11 years.
Children cannot yet think abstractly; their reasoning is tied to tangible objects and real-world scenarios.
They develop the ability to perform operations on concrete objects and understand conservation concepts.
Cognitive abilities include reduced egocentrism and logical thinking about concrete situations.
Notable behavior: questioning beliefs such as the existence of Santa Claus.

Formal Operational Stage

Age range: 11 years and older.
Early adulthood can exhibit adolescent egocentrism, leading to personal fables (belief in one's uniqueness) and the imaginary audience (feeling constantly observed by others).
Key ability: capacity for abstract and hypothetical thinking.
Example behavior: significant concern about personal physical appearance in adolescence.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development as outlined in Psychology Unit 3. This quiz covers key concepts including age range, limitations, and abilities associated with this developmental phase. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of early childhood psychology.