Glossary / Lexicon

Preoperational thinking is a term used in developmental psychology to describe the cognitive stage that occurs in children between the ages of 2 and 7 years old. During this stage, children are characterized by the use of symbols, the ability to think about things that are not present, and the beginning of logical reasoning. However, they still lack the ability to think in concrete, operational terms, which leads to some common cognitive errors.

One example of preoperational thinking is egocentrism, which is the inability to understand that other people have different perspectives and experiences than one's own. For example, a child might think that everyone sees the world in the same way they do, or that everyone likes the same things they do.

Another example is animism, which is the belief that inanimate objects have feelings and intentions, like humans do. For example, a child might think that a teddy bear is sad when left alone or that a car "wants" to go faster.

A third example of preoperational thinking is centration, which is the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation, rather than considering all the relevant factors. For example, a child might focus only on the size of a glass of juice and not consider that the same amount of liquid could be in a taller, narrower glass.

Preoperational thinking is an important stage in cognitive development because it sets the foundation for later, more complex thinking. As children progress through this stage, they begin to develop the ability to think more logically and systematically, and to understand other people's perspectives.

Some other similar concepts in developmental psychology include:

1. Concrete operational thinking: This is the cognitive stage that occurs in children between the ages of 7 and 12 years old. During this stage, children become capable of thinking logically and concretely, and can perform mental operations on objects and ideas. They are able to understand the concept of conservation (that the amount of a substance remains the same even if its appearance changes) and can think about multiple aspects of a situation at once.

2. Formal operational thinking: This is the cognitive stage that occurs in adolescence and beyond. During this stage, individuals become capable of thinking abstractly and hypothetically, and can reason logically about complex ideas and concepts. They are able to think critically and systematically, and can apply scientific reasoning to solve problems.

3. Zone of proximal development: This is a concept introduced by psychologist Lev Vygotsky to describe the difference between what a child can do on their own and what they can do with the help of a more skilled person. Vygotsky argued that children learn best when they are challenged to do something just beyond their current level of competence, and that adults can facilitate this learning by providing appropriate support and guidance.

Overall, preoperational thinking is an important stage in cognitive development that sets the foundation for later, more complex thinking. By understanding the common cognitive errors that occur during this stage, parents and educators can provide appropriate support and guidance to help children progress through this stage and develop their cognitive abilities.