There are only two cookies left in the cookie jar. One of the cookies is broken into two pieces. Janet, age 4, begins to cry when her brother Justin gets the broken cookie and she gets the whole one. According to Piagetian theory, what is the MOST likely cause of Janet's distress?

Question

Social Studies

Samara Cannon

12 May, 12:44

There are only two cookies left in the cookie jar. One of the cookies is broken into two pieces. Janet, age 4, begins to cry when her brother Justin gets the broken cookie and she gets the whole one. According to Piagetian theory, what is the MOST likely cause of Janet's distress?

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Answers (1)

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Gaines · Answer 1

Janet lacks the concept of conservation.

Explanation:

According to Piaget, Janet lacks the concept of conservation. This means she doesn't have the logical ability to realize that the content of something remains the same even if it changes its shape or size. She is in the Preoperational Stage of Cognitive Development. Piagetian theory of Cognitive Development consists of four stages. Kids between 2 and 7 years of age are in the Preoperational Stage. During this period, they learn to use language and get better at developing ideas but they are still very egocentric and cannot focus on more than one aspect of a situation. They also have difficulties in using logic. In the example of the cookie, Janet believes her brother is getting more cookies than she is because she sees two pieces, while she only has one.