What is the concrete operational stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

In Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the concrete operational stage is defined as a stage where children, typically ages 7 to 11, begin to think logically about concrete events. This means that during this phase, children start to understand the principles of operations such as conservation (the understanding that quantity doesn't change even when its shape does), and they can perform operations that are tied to tangible objects or real events.

At this stage, children develop the ability to classify objects, understand the concept of reversibility (that actions can be undone), and apply logical thinking to solve problems, provided those problems are related to concrete, physical experiences. This marks a significant evolution from earlier stages, where thought was more dominated by perception and less capable of operational thought.

The other options represent different aspects of cognitive development that do not apply to the concrete operational stage. For instance, abstract reasoning is characteristic of the subsequent formal operational stage, while egocentrism primarily describes the thinking of younger children in the preoperational stage. Lastly, focusing solely on hypothetical thinking is not indicative of the concrete operational stage, as it emphasizes dealing with concrete, tangible situations rather than abstract concepts.