Question

Monty, aged three years, tripped over his toy car while playing. He started beating the car, shouting “Bad car! You made me fall.”

Which one of the following terms given by Jean Piaget can be used to describe Monty’s behaviour?

Options

• Animism

• Integration

• Decentration

• Egocentrism

Answer 1

Animism

Explanation:

In Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, animism is associated with the Pre-operational stage (ages 2-7). Young infants have a tendency to attribute human feelings, intentions, and lifelike aspects to inanimate objects. Monty exhibits animistic thinking since he believes the toy car “made him fall” on purpose and regards it as if it has a “bad” personality.