Question

If you show an adult a toy, and then hide it behind a curtain, the adult knows that the toy still exists. However, infants act as if a hidden object no longer exists. What does this exemplify?A. article blindnessB. developmental theoryC. object permanenceD. perpetuation

Answer 1

Infants acting as if a hidden object no longer exists exemplifies a lack of 'object permanence,' a concept developed during the sensorimotor stage, between 5 to 8 months old, as described by Piaget.

Step-by-step explanation:

When very young infants act as if a hidden object no longer exists once it's out of sight, this exemplifies object permanence. Object permanence is the understanding that physical objects continue to exist, even when they are hidden from view. Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget noted that this concept is typically not present in infants until they reach the sensorimotor stage, which lasts from birth to about 2 years old. At about 5 to 8 months, children begin to develop object permanence, manifesting behaviors such as searching for or reaching towards an object that has been concealed. If an infant does not search for the hidden toy, it suggests they have not yet achieved object permanence.