Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (B) By using the senses.
Exam Relevance: Psychology exams, Developmental Psychology exams, Cognitive Development exams
Difficulty: Easy
Concept notes: According to Piaget, the first stage of cognitive development is the sensorimotor stage, which occurs from birth to about 2 years of age. During this stage, children learn about the world through their senses and motor activities.
Common Mistakes: Students may mistakenly believe that children in this stage learn primarily through language or abstract thinking, which are more characteristic of later stages of development.
Explanations: In the sensorimotor stage, infants and toddlers learn about their environment by touching, tasting, smelling, seeing, and hearing. They also learn through physical actions such as grasping, sucking, and moving their bodies. This sensory-motor interaction is crucial for their cognitive development during this stage.
Option Analysis: - Option A: This option is incorrect because language acquisition is not a primary mode of learning in the sensorimotor stage. Language skills develop in later stages.
- Option B: This option is correct because the sensorimotor stage is characterized by learning through sensory experiences and motor activities.
- Option C: This option is incorrect because abstract thinking is not developed until much later, typically in the formal operational stage.
- Option D: This option is incorrect because comprehending neutral words is not a primary focus in the sensorimotor stage. Language comprehension develops in later stages.
Mnemonic: Sensory Stage: See, Touch, Taste, Smell, Hear