12.1.4

Piaget & Inhelder’s Three Mountains Task (1956)

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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.

Model

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.
Procedure

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.
Results

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.
Conclusion

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.
Evaluation

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.
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