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Briefly describe three stages of sensorimotor intelligence, including each stage's age period. For each stage, give an example of an infant's behavior.

a) Stage 1: Reflexes (0-1 month) - Infants exhibit reflexive behaviors, such as sucking and grasping.
b) Stage 2: Primary Circular Reactions (1-4 months) - Infants engage in repetitive actions, like thumb-sucking.
c) Stage 3: Secondary Circular Reactions (4-8 months) - Infants start to repeat actions to elicit a response from the environment, like shaking a rattle.

User Ferenc
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Final answer:

Sensorimotor intelligence comprises three key stages in infant development: Stage 1 involves reflexive behaviors such as sucking, Stage 2 sees infants repeating actions like thumb-sucking that result in pleasurable sensations, and in Stage 3, infants engage in actions like shaking a rattle to produce a desired effect in the environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Stages of Sensorimotor Intelligence

The sensorimotor stage is the first stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development that spans from birth to about 2 years old. During this stage, children experience the world and learn through their senses and motor actions.

Stage 1: Reflexes (0-1 month)

In Stage 1, infants primarily exhibit reflexive behaviors. A common reflex is the sucking reflex which is vital for feeding.

Stage 2: Primary Circular Reactions (1-4 months)

During Stage 2, infants begin to engage in behaviors that allow them to experience their environment, such as thumb-sucking, which they repeat because it is pleasurable.

Stage 3: Secondary Circular Reactions (4-8 months)

In Stage 3, infants start to act with the intention of eliciting a response from their surroundings. For example, they shake a rattle to enjoy the sound it produces.

These stages illustrate how infants grow from reflex actions to more interactive behaviors, gaining an understanding of their environment and beginning to develop concepts like object permanence around 5 to 8 months old.

User DrDee
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