What is centration in Piaget's theory?

Centration in Piaget's theory refers to the cognitive limitation where a child focuses on one aspect of a situation or object while ignoring other relevant features. This concept is particularly evident in the preoperational stage of development, where children tend to fixate on what is most salient to them, such as the height of liquid in different containers or the number of objects in an array. For instance, when given two glasses of the same volume with one being taller and one shorter, a child may concentrate solely on the height and incorrectly conclude that the taller glass holds more, overlooking the overall volume.

The other choices highlight cognitive abilities that typically develop later, after overcoming centration. The ability to consider multiple features of an object signifies a more advanced cognitive stage where logical thinking and perspective-taking become prominent. Complex reasoning and the skill of reversing logical thoughts also reflect a higher level of cognitive development that goes beyond the limitations of centration. Therefore, identifying centration as the focus on only one feature provides a clearer understanding of a key aspect of Piaget's theory regarding the cognitive development of children.