Seeing a dog for the first time, Kenetra—whose family owns a cat—points and says "cat." Jean Piaget would say this is an example of

• A. object permanence.
• B. assimilation.
• C. accommodation.
• D. egocentrism.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context: Kenetra is encountering a new object (a dog) and is trying to categorize it based on her existing knowledge.
2. Identify the key concept: In Piaget's theory, assimilation involves incorporating new experiences into existing schemas without changing the schema.
3. Consider the options: Object permanence, accommodation, and egocentrism are other concepts in Piaget's theory, but they do not fit this scenario.
4. Assimilation is when Kenetra uses her existing schema for 'cat' to label the dog, as she is trying to fit the new experience into her existing understanding.
5. Conclude that this scenario is an example of assimilation, as Kenetra is applying her existing knowledge of animals to a new situation without altering her schema.