Your little brother has a big ball of clay. While he watches, you roll the ball of clay into a long snake-like shape. He begins to cry because he thinks he has less clay now. Which of Piaget's stages is your brother likely to be in?
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Your brother is likely in the preoperational stage of development, which is characterized by egocentrism and a lack of understanding of conservation. In this stage, children may believe that changing the shape or appearance of an object changes its actual amount. Therefore, your brother may think that the rolled-up clay snake represents a smaller amount of clay than the original ball shape.

Your Little Brother Has a Big Ball of Clay