Piaget & Inhelder’s Three Mountains Task (1956)
Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 11.1.4
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
Test yourself on Piaget & Inhelder’s Three Mountains Task (1956)
Who ran the three mountains task?