Which stage of cognitive development involves egocentrism and magical thinking?

The preoperational stage is characterized by egocentrism and magical thinking, which are key elements of cognitive development during this phase. Children in this stage, typically aged between two and seven years, have difficulty understanding viewpoints other than their own, viewing the world solely from their perspective. This egocentrism manifests in various ways, such as believing that others experience the world in the same manner they do.

Additionally, magical thinking is prominent during the preoperational stage, where children believe that their thoughts or actions can cause events to occur. For example, a child may think that their wishes or fears can influence reality, interpreting the world in imaginative and fantastical ways. This form of thinking is a transition from the more concrete thought processes evident in later stages and indicates how children use imagination and symbols to understand their surroundings.

In contrast, the sensorimotor stage primarily focuses on concrete physical interactions and does not involve egocentrism or magical thinking. Meanwhile, the concrete operational stage marks the development of logical thinking about concrete events, where children begin to understand other viewpoints and apply reason more effectively. Finally, the formal operational stage involves abstract thinking and hypothetical reasoning, which further distance cognitive processes from the egocentric beliefs and magical thinking typical of the