FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which cognitive development stage according to Piaget involves seeing the world from their own point of view?

1. Concrete operations

2. Formal operations

3. Preoperational

4. Sensorimotor

The correct answer is: Preoperational

The correct answer is based on the preoperational stage of cognitive development as outlined by Jean Piaget. During this stage, which usually spans from ages two to seven, children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, but they do not yet understand concrete logic. A key characteristic of this stage is egocentrism, where children have difficulty in seeing things from perspectives other than their own. They are primarily focused on their own experiences and needs, which limits their ability to understand the viewpoints of others. In contrast, the other stages have distinct characteristics that do not align with the notion of seeing the world solely from one’s own perspective. The concrete operations stage involves the development of logical thought about concrete objects and begins around age seven, allowing for an understanding of others' perspectives. The formal operations stage, occurring around age eleven, introduces abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking. The sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to about age two, is centered on physical interaction with the environment rather than cognitive perspective-taking. Each of these later stages reflects a greater ability to understand the perspectives of others, which is not yet present in the preoperational stage.