Final answer:
Jean Piaget defined egocentrism as the inability of young children to see things from another's perspective, which is part of their cognitive development. Children at this stage think everyone has the same views as they do, but they gradually develop the ability to understand others' thoughts and feelings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jean Piaget defined egocentrism as the idea that preschool children cannot see things from another's point of view. This is evident in behaviors where children are unable to take the perspective of others, assuming that everyone sees, thinks, and feels just as they do.
For example, a child may pick out a gift for a sibling based on their own preferences, not considering the sibling's likes and dislikes.
Piaget's research on cognitive development suggested that as children age, they gradually overcome egocentric thought and begin to develop a theory of mind (TOM), which allows them to understand that other people have thoughts and feelings that are different from their own.
It is also noted that in adolescence, a form of egocentrism may reoccur, as teenagers can overestimate the extent to which their own concerns are shared by others, such as over a minor pimple.