There are only two cookies left in the cookie jar. One of the cookies is broken into two pieces. Janet, age 4, begins to cry when her brother Justin gets the broken cookie. According to Piagetian theory, what is the most likely cause of Janet's distress?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Piagetian theory, children in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) often do not understand the conservation concept, which is the idea that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance. Janet likely perceives the broken cookie as more because it is in two pieces.

There Are Only Two Cookies Left in the Cookie Jar