In Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, _____ refers to the inability of a young child to mentally reverse an action.

• A. conservation
• B. irreversibility
• C. scaffolding
• D. egocentrism

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which outlines how children develop cognitive abilities in stages.
2. Identify the key concept of 'irreversibility' in Piaget's theory. This refers to a child's inability to mentally reverse an action, which is a characteristic of the preoperational stage of development.
3. Contrast 'irreversibility' with 'conservation,' which is another concept in Piaget's theory. Conservation is the understanding that certain properties of objects remain the same despite changes in their form or appearance.
4. Consider 'egocentrism,' another concept in Piaget's preoperational stage, which describes a child's difficulty in seeing things from perspectives other than their own.
5. Reflect on 'scaffolding,' which is not a concept from Piaget but rather from Vygotsky's theory, referring to the support given to a child that is tailored to their needs and gradually removed as they become more competent.