When 17-year-old Paul was discussing his future with his father, Paul said, "Let's just suppose for the sake of discussion that I don't attend college right away. What if I volunteered overseas instead?" Paul's ability to think in these terms is characteristic of:
A) sensorimotor thought
B) preoperational thought
C) formal operational thought
D) concrete operational thought

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Paul's ability to consider hypothetical situations and explore possibilities shows that he is capable of formal operational thought, which is the highest level of cognitive development according to Piaget's theory. Sensorimotor thought is limited to the infant stage, preoperational thought is more focused on egocentrism and perception rather than hypothetical thinking, and concrete operational thought is more focused on concrete, observable situations rather than abstract concepts.

When 17-Year-Old Paul Was Discussing His Future with His Father