Characteristics of Centration

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 146 views

Understanding Cognitive Development: Identifying the Stage of Centration

Cognitive development is a crucial aspect of human growth, and it involves the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and understanding of the world around us. Jean Piaget, a renowned Swiss psychologist, proposed a theory of cognitive development that consists of four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Each stage is characterized by distinct cognitive abilities and limitations. In this article, we will focus on the preoperational stage, specifically the concept of centration, and explore how it is indicated by focusing or centering attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others.

The Preoperational Stage

The preoperational stage, which spans from approximately 2 to 7 years of age, is the second stage of cognitive development according to Piaget's theory. During this stage, children begin to use symbols and language to represent the world, but their thinking is still egocentric and centered on their own perspective. They have difficulty taking other people's perspectives and understanding the world from different viewpoints.

Centration: A Key Concept in the Preoperational Stage

Centration is a key concept in the preoperational stage, and it refers to the tendency to focus or center attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others. Children in this stage have difficulty considering multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously and tend to focus on a single characteristic, such as color, shape, or size. This limited focus leads to a lack of understanding of the relationships between different characteristics and the ability to think logically.

Example of Centration

A classic example of centration is the "Three-Mugs Problem." In this problem, a child is presented with three mugs of different sizes, and they are asked to pour water from one mug into another. The child is likely to focus on the size of the mugs and pour the water from the largest mug into the smallest mug, without considering the amount of water in each mug. This demonstrates the child's centration, as they are focusing on one characteristic (size) to the exclusion of all others (amount of water).

Characteristics of Centration

Centration is characterized by several key features, including:

Limited focus: Children in the preoperational stage tend to focus on a single characteristic, such as color, shape, or size.
Lack of consideration of multiple aspects: Children in this stage have difficulty considering multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously.
Egocentrism: Children in the preoperational stage tend to think from their own perspective and have difficulty taking other people's perspectives.
Difficulty with logical thinking: Children in this stage have difficulty thinking logically and considering the relationships between different characteristics.

Distinguishing Centration from Other Concepts

Centration is often confused with other concepts, such as animism and decentration. However, there are key differences between these concepts:

Animism: Animism is the tendency to attribute human-like qualities to non-human objects, such as animals or objects. This is a characteristic of the preoperational stage, but it is not the same as centration.
Decentration: Decentration is the ability to consider multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously and to think logically. This is a characteristic of the concrete operational stage, which follows the preoperational stage.

In conclusion, centration is a key concept in the preoperational stage of cognitive development, and it refers to the tendency to focus or center attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others. Children in this stage have difficulty considering multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously and tend to focus on a single characteristic. Understanding centration is essential for educators and parents to provide appropriate support and guidance to children in this stage.

Piaget, J. (1954). The construction of reality in the child. New York: Basic Books.
Piaget, J. (1969). The psychology of the child. New York: Basic Books.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Interaction between learning and development. Readings on the development of children, 22-27.

Q: What is centration? A: Centration is the tendency to focus or center attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others.
Q: What stage of cognitive development is centration associated with? A: Centration is associated with the preoperational stage of cognitive development.
Q: What are some characteristics of centration? A: Characteristics of centration include limited focus, lack of consideration of multiple aspects, egocentrism, and difficulty with logical thinking.
Q: How can educators and parents support children in the preoperational stage? A: Educators and parents can support children in the preoperational stage by providing opportunities for children to engage in activities that promote logical thinking and consideration of multiple aspects of a situation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Understanding Centration and Cognitive Development

Centration is a key concept in the preoperational stage of cognitive development, and it refers to the tendency to focus or center attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others. In this article, we will continue to explore the concept of centration and answer some frequently asked questions about cognitive development.

Q: What is centration?

A: Centration is the tendency to focus or center attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others. This means that children in the preoperational stage have difficulty considering multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously and tend to focus on a single characteristic.

Q: What stage of cognitive development is centration associated with?

A: Centration is associated with the preoperational stage of cognitive development, which spans from approximately 2 to 7 years of age.

Q: What are some characteristics of centration?

A: Characteristics of centration include:

Limited focus: Children in the preoperational stage tend to focus on a single characteristic, such as color, shape, or size.
Lack of consideration of multiple aspects: Children in this stage have difficulty considering multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously.
Egocentrism: Children in the preoperational stage tend to think from their own perspective and have difficulty taking other people's perspectives.
Difficulty with logical thinking: Children in this stage have difficulty thinking logically and considering the relationships between different characteristics.

Q: How can educators and parents support children in the preoperational stage?

A: Educators and parents can support children in the preoperational stage by providing opportunities for children to engage in activities that promote logical thinking and consideration of multiple aspects of a situation. Some strategies include:

Encouraging children to think about multiple aspects of a situation: Ask children to consider different perspectives and to think about how different characteristics relate to each other.
Providing opportunities for children to engage in hands-on activities: Hands-on activities can help children develop their logical thinking skills and consider multiple aspects of a situation.
Using visual aids and props: Visual aids and props can help children to understand complex concepts and to consider multiple aspects of a situation.

Q: What are some common misconceptions about centration?

A: Some common misconceptions about centration include:

Centration is the same as animism: Animism is the tendency to attribute human-like qualities to non-human objects, such as animals or objects. While centration and animism are both characteristics of the preoperational stage, they are distinct concepts.
Centration is the same as decentration: Decentration is the ability to consider multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously and to think logically. While centration and decentration are related concepts, they are not the same thing.

Q: How can I tell if my child is exhibiting centration?

A: If your child is exhibiting centration, you may notice that they:

Focus on a single characteristic: Your child may focus on a single characteristic, such as color or shape, and ignore other aspects of a situation.
Have difficulty considering multiple aspects: Your child may have difficulty considering multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously and may become frustrated or confused.
Tend to think from their own perspective: Your child may tend to think from their own perspective and have difficulty taking other people's perspectives.

In conclusion, centration is a key concept in the preoperational stage of cognitive development, and it refers to the tendency to focus or center attention on one characteristic to the exclusion of all others. By understanding centration and its characteristics, educators and parents can provide support and guidance to children in this stage and help them develop their logical thinking skills.

Piaget, J. (1954). The construction of reality in the child. New York: Basic Books.
Piaget, J. (1969). The psychology of the child. New York: Basic Books.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Interaction between learning and development. Readings on the development of children, 22-27.

Books: "The Construction of Reality in the Child" by Jean Piaget, "The Psychology of the Child" by Jean Piaget, "Interaction between Learning and Development" by Lev Vygotsky.
Online Resources: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Videos: "Understanding Centration" by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), "Centration and Cognitive Development" by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).