As Tim was swinging his toy hammer, the hammer flew out of his hand and landed behind the couch and out of view. Rather than look for it, Tim acted as though the hammer no longer existed. Tim's behavior suggests that he is in the _____ stage of cognitive development.
A)preoperational
B)concrete operational
C)formal operational
D)sensorimotor

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tim's behavior suggests he is in the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development, which typically occurs from birth to about 2 years of age. During this stage, children do not yet understand object permanence, the concept that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or otherwise sensed. Tim's acting as though the hammer no longer existed when it flew out of sight is indicative of this lack of understanding.

As Tim Was Swinging His Toy Hammer, the Hammer Flew