While talking with his Grandma on the phone, little Marcelo suddenly exclaims, 'Oh, look at that pretty red bird!' When his grandmother asks him to describe the bird, Marcelo says, 'Out there, out there! Right there, Grandma!' He finally gets frustrated and hangs up. This is an example of

• A. conservation.
• B. object permanence.
• C. animation.
• D. egocentrism.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key behavior exhibited by Marcelo: He is unable to understand that his grandmother cannot see what he sees.
2. Recognize that this behavior is related to a cognitive developmental stage described by Jean Piaget.
3. Understand that egocentrism is a characteristic of the preoperational stage in Piaget's theory, where children have difficulty taking the perspective of others.
4. Differentiate egocentrism from other concepts: Conservation involves understanding that quantity doesn't change with appearance, object permanence is knowing objects exist when not seen, and animation refers to attributing life to inanimate objects.
5. Conclude that Marcelo's behavior exemplifies egocentrism, as he assumes his grandmother can see the bird just as he does, without considering her perspective.