Ethan, a three year old, asks his mom to cut a pizza pie into twelve rather than eight pieces because he is "really hungry." On the basis of this example, it is most appropriate to conclude that Ethan
A) understands object permanence.
B) does not understand object permanence.
C) understands conservation.
D) does not understand conservation.
E) understands the personal fable

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ethan's request for more pieces showing that he prioritizes the quantity over the size, which suggests that he does not understand conservation, the basic principle that properties such as mass or volume do not change despite changes in appearance.

Ethan, a Three Year Old, Asks His Mom to Cut