Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

What is one of the main pillars of cognitive development in infancy?

1. Language acquisition

2. Social interaction

3. Object permanence

4. Emotional regulation

The correct answer is: Object permanence

Object permanence is a fundamental concept in cognitive development during infancy, signifying the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. This cognitive milestone typically develops around 8 to 12 months of age and is crucial for infants as they begin to form mental representations of the world around them. Understanding object permanence allows infants to search for hidden objects, which reflects their ability to think and reason about their environment. The development of object permanence is important because it lays the foundation for more complex cognitive processes. As infants grasp that objects exist independently of their perception, they start to engage more actively with their surroundings, which promotes exploration and learning. While language acquisition, social interaction, and emotional regulation are all significant aspects of development, they build upon the cognitive skills that are established with concepts like object permanence. Language, for example, becomes more meaningful when the child understands the permanence of objects to associate words with those objects. Similarly, social interactions are enriched when children are able to recognize and remember people and things that are not immediately present. Therefore, object permanence is rightly identified as a key pillar of cognitive development during infancy.