Deutsch: Zentrierung / Español: centración / Português: centração / Français: centration / Italiano: centramento
Centration in psychology refers to a cognitive tendency, particularly observed in young children, to focus on one aspect of a situation while ignoring other relevant features. This concept is part of Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and is most prominent during the preoperational stage (ages 2–7). It plays a significant role in how children perceive and understand their environment, often leading to errors in judgment and reasoning.
Description
Centration is a characteristic of the preoperational stage in Piaget’s developmental theory. At this stage, children are limited in their ability to think about multiple aspects of a problem simultaneously. This often results in focusing on the most visually striking or salient feature of an object or situation while ignoring other important dimensions.
For example, in Piaget’s conservation tasks, children are shown two equal quantities of liquid in identical containers. When the liquid is poured into a taller, narrower container, a child exhibiting centration will focus on the height of the liquid and mistakenly believe that the taller container holds more liquid, ignoring the width.
Key features of centration include:
- Focus on a single dimension: Ignoring other relevant aspects.
- Egocentrism: Difficulty understanding perspectives other than their own.
- Perceptual Boundaries: Relying heavily on appearances rather than logic.
Centration is a normal and temporary stage in cognitive development. As children grow and develop more advanced reasoning abilities, they move beyond centration, developing the capacity for decentration, or the ability to consider multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously.
Special Considerations
Centration is not limited to children. Adults may also exhibit centration-like tendencies in specific situations, especially under emotional stress or cognitive overload. For example, in high-pressure scenarios, individuals might focus narrowly on a single problem while missing the bigger picture.
Application Areas
Centration is relevant in:
- Child Development Studies: Understanding how children’s thinking evolves and designing age-appropriate educational strategies.
- Education: Teachers and caregivers use knowledge of centration to guide children toward more complex thinking processes.
- Clinical Psychology: Identifying delays in cognitive development and creating targeted interventions.
- Parenting and Guidance: Helping parents understand typical cognitive limitations in children.
Symptoms, Therapy, and Healing
Symptoms
In children, centration may manifest as:
- Difficulty solving conservation problems (e.g., liquid or number conservation).
- Focus on appearance over logic (e.g., thinking a taller person is older).
- Trouble considering multiple perspectives or variables at once.
Therapy and Treatment
Centration is a normal part of cognitive development and does not require therapy in most cases. However, when cognitive development appears delayed, interventions may help:
- Cognitive Developmental Therapy: Focused exercises to improve reasoning and problem-solving skills.
- Educational Support: Activities that encourage logical thinking, such as sorting tasks, puzzles, and hands-on experiences.
- Parental Guidance and Play Therapy: Helping parents create enriched environments that stimulate multi-dimensional thinking.
Healing and Prognosis
Centration naturally diminishes as children reach the concrete operational stage (around age 7). With appropriate educational experiences and a supportive environment, children develop the ability to think flexibly and logically. For cases of delayed development, early intervention leads to significant improvements in cognitive abilities.
Summary
Centration in psychology is a cognitive tendency seen in young children to focus on a single aspect of a situation, often leading to errors in reasoning. It is a normal part of early cognitive development and resolves as children mature. Educational strategies and supportive environments can help children develop multi-dimensional thinking and overcome centration-related challenges.
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