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?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Your brother is likely in the preoperational stage, which is characterized by egocentric thinking and an inability to understand conservation (i.e. that the amount of clay remains the same even if the shape changes). Therefore, your brother believes that he has less clay because the shape has changed. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 7.

Your Little Brother Has a Big Ball of Clay