Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Human Behavior Practice Test

Which aspect of Piaget's theory focuses on understanding the world through actions and experiences?

1. Concrete Operational Stage

2. Pre-operational Stage

3. Sensorimotor Stage

4. Formal Operational Stage

The correct answer is: Sensorimotor Stage

The Sensorimotor Stage is a foundational aspect of Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which spans from birth to approximately two years of age. During this stage, infants learn about their environment and the world around them primarily through their sensory experiences and motor activities. They engage in various interactions with objects, people, and their surroundings, developing motor skills and refining their understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. Key characteristics of the Sensorimotor Stage include: 1. The use of reflexes: Infants start with instinctive responses and gradually learn to use their reflexes in more sophisticated ways to explore their environment. 2. Object permanence: A critical cognitive milestone in this stage is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. This concept develops gradually and highlights how infants learn to represent their experiences mentally. 3. Exploration and experimentation: Children learn through hands-on exploration, which allows them to test their hypotheses about how things work. This active engagement with their environment is crucial for cognitive development. In distinguishing this stage from the others, the Concrete Operational Stage focuses on logical operations relating to concrete situations and objects, while the Pre-operational Stage is marked by symbolic thinking and egocentric perspectives. The Formal Operational Stage, on the other hand,