Final answer:
The preoperational stage described is characterized by egocentrism, where children aged 2 to 7 years see the world only from their own perspective, lacking the ability to consider others' points of view.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Piaget's Preoperational Stage of Cognitive Development
The stage you are describing where a child views the world primarily in terms of their own ideas and wants, assuming that others share the same perspectives, is known as egocentrism within Piaget's preoperational stage of cognitive development. This stage typically occurs from ages 2 to 7 years old. During the preoperational stage, children use symbols to represent objects and engage in pretend play. However, they are not able to perform mental operations and lack understanding of conservation, which is the notion that objects retain their same amount despite changes in form or appearance.
One classic example of egocentrism during this stage is how a child might give a gift based on their own preference, thinking the other person would also enjoy it. They do not yet have the ability to understand that other people may have different thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. This stage is critical in developmental psychology, as it marks a time when children are beginning to use language and conceptualize the world, even though their understanding is still quite limited and centered around their own experiences.