Which concept states that objects continue to exist even when not in view, especially in infancy?

Which concept states that objects continue to exist even when not in view, especially in infancy?

• A. Object permanence
• B. Sensorimotor
• C. Centration
• D. Irreversibility

Answer: (A)

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when we can’t see, hear, or touch them. In infancy, this idea emerges as children move through the sensorimotor stage, roughly across the first year of life, with stronger demonstrations typically appearing around 8 to 12 months. This concept explains why babies begin to search for toys that are hidden or out of sight, showing they grasp that the object still exists even though it’s not visible. The broader term sensorimotor describes the whole period when infants learn about the world through direct interaction, while centration and irreversibility refer to other early-thinking limitations—focusing on one aspect at a time, and the inability to reverse a sequence mentally, respectively.

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when we can’t see, hear, or touch them. In infancy, this idea emerges as children move through the sensorimotor stage, roughly across the first year of life, with stronger demonstrations typically appearing around 8 to 12 months. This concept explains why babies begin to search for toys that are hidden or out of sight, showing they grasp that the object still exists even though it’s not visible. The broader term sensorimotor describes the whole period when infants learn about the world through direct interaction, while centration and irreversibility refer to other early-thinking limitations—focusing on one aspect at a time, and the inability to reverse a sequence mentally, respectively.