Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

Development During Infancy and Childhood389FOR BETTER OR WORSEThe hallmark of preoperational thought is the child’s capacity to engage insymbolic thought. Symbolic thought refers to the ability to use words, images,and symbols to represent the world (DeLoache, 1995). One indication of theexpanding capacity for symbolic thought is the child’s impressive gains in languageduring this stage.The child’s increasing capacity for symbolic thought is also apparent in her use offantasy and imagination while playing (Golomb & Galasso, 1995). A discarded boxbecomes a spaceship, a house, or a fort, as children imaginatively take on the roles ofdifferent characters. In doing so, children imitate (or try to imitate) actions they havementally symbolized from situations observed days, or even weeks, earlier.Still, the preoperational child’s understanding of symbols remains immature. A2-year-old shown a picture of a flower, for example, may try to smell it. A youngchild may be puzzled by the notion that a map symbolizes an actual location—as inthe comic above. In short, preoperational children are still actively figuring out therelationship between symbols and the actual objects they represent (DeLoache,1995).The thinking of preoperational children often displays egocentrism. By egocentrism,Piaget did not mean selfishness or conceit. Rather, egocentric children lackthe ability to consider events from another person’s point of view. Thus, the youngchild genuinely thinks that Grandma would like a new Beanie Baby or a Spidermanvideo for her upcoming birthday because that’s what he wants. Egocentric thoughtis also operating when the child silently nods his head in answer to Grandpa’s questionon the telephone.The preoperational child’s thought is also characterized by irreversibility and centration.Irreversibility means that the child cannot mentally reverse a sequence ofevents or logical operations back to the starting point. For example, the childdoesn’t understand that adding “3 plus 1” and adding “1 plus 3” refer to the samelogical operation. Centration refers to the tendency to focus, or center, on only oneaspect of a situation, usually a perceptual aspect. In doing so, the child ignores otherrelevant aspects of the situation.FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE ©1994 Lynn JohnstonProd., Inc. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSALPRESS SYNDICATE. All rights reserved.sensorimotor stageIn Piaget’s theory, the first stage of cognitivedevelopment, from birth to about age 2; theperiod during which the infant explores theenvironment and acquires knowledgethrough sensing and manipulating objects.object permanenceThe understanding that an object continuesto exist even when it can no longer be seen.preoperational stageIn Piaget’s theory, the second stage of cognitivedevelopment, which lasts from aboutage 2 to age 7; characterized by increasinguse of symbols and prelogical thoughtprocesses.symbolic thoughtThe ability to use words, images, and symbolsto represent the world.egocentrismIn Piaget’s theory, the inability to take anotherperson’s perspective or point of view.irreversibilityIn Piaget’s theory, the inability to mentallyreverse a sequence of events or logicaloperations.centrationIn Piaget’s theory, the tendency to focus, orcenter, on only one aspect of a situationand ignore other important aspects of thesituation.Preoperational Thinking: ManipulatingMental Symbols With a hodgepodge oftoys, some fake fruit, a couple of scarves,and a firefighter’s helmet, these two arehaving great fun. The preschool child’s increasingcapacity for symbolic thought isdelightfully reflected in symbolic play anddeferred imitation. In symbolic play, oneobject stands for another: A scarf canbecome a magic cape, a coat, a mask, or atablecloth. Deferred imitation is the capacityto repeat an action observed earlier,such as the action of a checker in a store.