A 6-month-old infant is trying very hard to reach a colorful rattle that is on the floor in front of her. The infant's mother mistakenly drops a blanket over the rattle, concealing it from the infant. The infant reacts by looking away from the covered rattle and picking up another nearby toy. How would Piaget attribute the infant's reaction?
A) The infant's reaching behavior is not consistent with her understanding.
B) The infant has a short attention span.
C) The infant lacks problem-solving skills.
D) The infant lacks object permanence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children develop the concept of object permanence around 8 to 12 months, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. The infant's reaction of looking away from the covered rattle and picking up another nearby toy suggests that she lacks object permanence and does not yet understand that the rattle still exists even though she cannot see it.

A 6-Month-Old Infant Is Trying Very Hard to Reach a Colorful