In order to overcome a state of disequilibrium, a child must
A)engage in hypothetical deductive reasoning.
B)become more egocentric.
C)reorganize his or her schemes.
D)develop a strong orienting response.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Disequilibrium in Piaget's theory refers to a state of cognitive conflict or inconsistency between a child's existing schemes and their experience of the world. To overcome this, the child must reorganize their schemes - that is, their mental representations of the world - to better fit their experiences. This process is called accommodation, and it leads to an increased level of cognitive equilibrium, or a better "fit" between the child's understanding of the world and the actual world. Engagement in hypothetical deductive reasoning (A) and the development of a strong orienting response (D) are not specific to the process of overcoming disequilibrium, although they may be related to other aspects of cognitive development. Becoming more egocentric (B) would not be helpful in overcoming disequilibrium; on the contrary, egocentrism is seen as one of the limitations of early childhood thinking.

In Order to Overcome a State of Disequilibrium, a Child