11.1.4

Piaget & Inhelder’s Three Mountains Task (1956)

Test yourself

Piaget and Inhelder’s Three Mountains Task (1956)

Piaget and Inhelder used a 3-D mountain model to provide evidence for his theory. Through the task, Piaget demonstrated that children in the pre-operational stage showed egocentrism.

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Model

  • The model was of three mountains.
  • On the mountains, Piaget placed various different landmarks.
    • For example, a cross was placed on one and a house on another.
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Procedure

  • Piaget placed a small doll on one of the mountains.
  • Piaget then showed a child several pictures of the three mountains.
  • The child was then asked to choose the photo that would match what the doll could see.
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Results

  • Children in the pre-operational stage (2-7 years old) could not take the perspective of the doll.
  • Instead, they chose the picture that was of their perspective.
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Conclusion

  • Piaget and Inhelder concluded that children in the pre-operational stage demonstrated egocentrism.
  • In other words, children could not take the perspective of another.
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Evaluation

  • The study is often criticised as the children may not have understood the task, rather than showing egocentrism.
  • They may have misunderstood when asked to select a photo.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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