During a thunderstorm, a 6-year-old in Piaget's preoperational stage says, 'The rain is following me.' This illustrates which concept?

• A. Animism
• B. Egocentrism
• C. Centration
• D. Object Permanence

Answer: (B)

Egocentrism is the tendency to view the world only from one’s own perspective and assume others share that viewpoint. In Piaget’s preoperational stage, children often act as if the rain’s movements are directed at or centered on them, which is a classic example of not taking another perspective into account. Saying the rain is following me shows the child’s self-centered interpretation of events rather than understanding that rain doesn’t have a personal motive or awareness of the child. This differs from animism, where inanimate things are treated as alive or having feelings; it also isn’t about focusing on one aspect (centration) or understanding that objects exist when not perceived (object permanence).