ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

In the concrete operations stage, what skills begin to develop in children?

1. Understanding individual emotions

2. Memory retention techniques

3. Ability to reverse and decenter thoughts

4. Use of hypothetical reasoning

The correct answer is: Ability to reverse and decenter thoughts

During the concrete operations stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11, children begin to develop the ability to think logically about concrete events. One of the key skills that emerges during this stage is the capacity to reverse and decenter thoughts. This means that children can understand that objects can change forms while keeping some aspects the same, and they can also take multiple aspects of a situation into account. For instance, a child in this stage can comprehend that if one container holds the same volume of liquid as another, it doesn't matter if the shapes of the containers are different. They are able to mentally reverse actions or operations, allowing them to understand that if a liquid is poured from one container to another, it can be poured back and recognize that the amount remains unchanged. This development marks a significant cognitive growth, allowing for more complex problem-solving skills and a better understanding of relationships among various objects and concepts in their environment.