Decentration is the ability to consider more than one relevant aspect of a situation at the same time.
Decentration refers to the ability to consider multiple aspects or dimensions of a situation simultaneously. In the earlier stages of cognitive development, particularly in the preoperational stage, children tend to exhibit "centration," where they focus on one aspect of a situation and ignore others. They may struggle to understand that changing the arrangement of objects doesn't necessarily change the quantity, for example.
As children develop and progress through Piaget's stages, they become capable of decentration. This means they can consider more than one relevant aspect of a situation at the same time. They become more flexible in their thinking, taking into account various factors and perspectives.
For example, imagine a child is presented with two identical glasses of liquid. If the liquid from one glass is poured into a shorter, wider glass, a child in the preoperational stage might think there is now more liquid in the shorter glass. However, a child who has developed decentration understands that the quantity of liquid remains the same despite the change in appearance.
In summary, decentration is a crucial aspect of cognitive development as it allows individuals to think more flexibly, consider multiple dimensions, and understand that changes in appearance do not necessarily indicate changes in quantity or fundamental properties.