Piaget spoke of egocentrism as a characteristic of preoperational thought. Three of the following are examples of egocentrism as Piaget defined it. Which one is not an example of preoperational egocentrism?
A) Justin is constantly grabbing objects and pulling them toward himself.
B) Lois tells a story as if her listeners already know many details they can't possibly know.
C) Kate cannot make sense of the question "How do you think Molly feels?"
D) Frank thinks that Lucinda sees the same thing he does, even though Lucinda is in a different room.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option A is not an example of preoperational egocentrism. It is a behavior that may indicate a lack of impulse control or a desire for control over objects. Options B, C, and D all reflect characteristics of preoperational egocentrism as described by Piaget. Option B is an example of subjective thought, where the speaker assumes the listener shares the same frame of reference. Option C reflects centration, or the inability to consider multiple perspectives or factors simultaneously. Option D reflects animism, the belief that inanimate objects have human-like qualities or emotions.

Piaget Spoke of Egocentrism as a Characteristic of Preoperational Thought