Preoperational Stage (2-7 yrs old)

Question 1

What are mental representations?

Answer 1

They evolve gradually from imitation. The object or even stands for the other. There are two types of mental representations!

Question 2

What are the two types of mental representations?

Answer 2

Symbols and signs

Question 3

What are symbols?

Answer 3

They are more simple. They have shared characteristics; just like Tyson used the funnel for a trumpet, he recognized the characteristics. They are seen in symbolic play.

Question 4

What are signs?

Answer 4

They are more complex. They are arbitrary; lack shared characteristics. Signs can also be applied to words. Since they are egocentric they can recognize their name since that’s THEIR name. They can’t read at this sage, but they know it and they recognize it. ( the world is expanding)

Question 5

What are some characteristics of preoperational thought?

Answer 5

Egocentrism
Rigid of thought 
Function
Regulation
Identity
Limit social cognition

Question 6

How does egocentrism apply to Preoperational Thought?

Answer 6

Self is center. There is an incomplete differentiation of self and world. They perceive, understand, interpret world in tens of self. This is evident in speech, since their speech is egocentric. It continues to decline gradually, but it’s never completely absent.

Question 7

How does rigid thought apply to Preoperational Thought?

Answer 7

Centration: a tendency to attend to one feature, ignoring others. (Same amount of water in two different shaped cups) focus on the state of something at a time.
Transformation.
Focus on appearance- ignore reality.
Lack of reversibility - irreversibility.
Unable to play back mental operations.
Can internalize action but is not bidirectional.

Question 8

What are the achievements in Preoperational Thought?

Answer 8

Function - the notion that there is a relation between factors.
Regulation- mental act that is partially decentrated. They can switch back and forth between characteristics.
Identity- object can change in appearance without changing basic nurture or identity.

Question 9

What does limit social cognition mean?

Answer 9

Application to social realm.
Role taken.
Communication persons identity.
Moral judgment.