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Jean Piaget Observation Essay

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Using the Habituation Technique to Evaluate a Piagetian Hypothesis The purpose of this paper is to use the habituation technique in young infants to evaluate one hypothesis derived from Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. I will compare 5-months olds in a task that involves possible and impossible outcomes. Piaget’s theory specifies the cognitive competencies of children of this age. 1a. In the first stage of cognitive development, the sensorimotor stage is the simplest form of cognitive development. At around two years old, toddlers use their five senses and actions to perceive the world. When children are very young, if they do not see something, then they believe the object is not there. However, as the child starts to get older, if they know the object is hidden, then they …show more content…

Piaget would agree that object permanence in toddlers is absent due to the fact that they do not have the ability to recall memories or uncover patterns yet. Piaget claims object permanence occurs in children around eight to nine months old. Object permanence occurs because children start to notice recurring themes and patterns. 1c. Stranger anxiety is defined as a child showing unease in a novel situation. According to Piaget, this trait develops around eight to nine months old as well. Stranger anxiety develops around the age object permanence develops due to the fact that it is when a child becomes familiar with certain people and objects. In a case where a strange item or person is introduced, the child will seek a recognizable item or face; this gives the child comfort, and shows the child is capable of remembering certain conditions. 1d. Koleen McCrink and Karen Wynn believed that object permanence is a constantly developed occurrence, rather than a spontaneous ability as Piaget theorized. Another difference between their theories is, McCrink and Wynn believe that object permanence is

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