Three-year-old Dominic calls his toy robot Sam and talks to him as if Sam is another 3-year-old. What explanation do researchers give for Dominic's behavior?
A) Dominic actually believes that the robot is alive.
B) Dominic believes that all people and objects think the same thoughts that he thinks.
C) Dominic cannot distinguish between animate and inanimate objects.
D) Dominic has incomplete knowledge about certain objects, including his toy robot.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dominic's behavior is explained by his incomplete knowledge about certain objects, including his toy robot. At his age, children often engage in pretend play and may attribute lifelike qualities to inanimate objects, not because they can't distinguish between animate and inanimate objects or believe these objects are alive, but because their understanding of the world and different objects within it is still developing.

Three-Year-Old Dominic Calls His Toy Robot Sam and Talks to Him