Gilbert notices that his sausage is sliced into six pieces, whereas his brother's is sliced into nine pieces. He understands, however, that his brother's sausage is not actually any larger than his own. This indicates that Gilbert has by now reached the ________ stage of development.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the concrete operational stage (ages 7-11) is characterized by the ability to understand that physical quantities remain the same despite changes in appearance (conservation). Gilbert's understanding that his brother's sausage, while sliced differently, is not actually larger indicates that he has developed this ability to conserve quantity. The sensorimotor stage (ages 0-2) is focused on developing basic reflexes and sensory-motor skills; the formal operational stage (ages 11+) involves more abstract and logical thinking; and the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) is characterized by animistic thinking and egocentrism.

Gilbert Notices That His Sausage Is Sliced into Six Pieces