Definition of Centration:

Centration refers to the cognitive tendency of a person, especially children, to focus on only one aspect of a situation or object while disregarding other relevant factors. This concept was first introduced by the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget as a key aspect of cognitive development.

Background

Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that centration is particularly common during the preoperational stage, which typically occurs between the ages of two and seven. During this stage, children are still developing their mental abilities and tend to engage in egocentric thinking, where they struggle to take other perspectives into account.

Characteristics of Centration

The primary characteristic of centration is the narrowing of attention to a single aspect of a situation or object. Children often fixate on the most salient feature and fail to consider other relevant factors that may be important in understanding the whole picture.

For example, if asked to compare two glasses holding the same amount of liquid, a child who demonstrates centration may focus solely on the height of the liquid in each glass and conclude that the taller glass contains more, ignoring the fact that both glasses have the same liquid volume.

Impact on Problem-Solving

Centration can hinder problem-solving abilities as it limits a person’s capacity to consider multiple dimensions or variables simultaneously. This tendency to focus on a single dimension often leads to erroneous conclusions or inaccurate judgments about objects, quantities, or events.

Moreover, centration can interfere with the understanding of conservation, which is the understanding that the quantity or characteristics of an object remain the same, despite changes in its appearance. Children who are heavily influenced by centration may struggle to grasp concepts such as number conservation or mass conservation.

Overcoming Centration

As children develop cognitively, they gradually overcome centration through the refinement of their thinking abilities. The ability to decenter, or consider multiple perspectives and dimensions, emerges as children progress into Piaget’s concrete operational stage.

Education and guided experiences play a crucial role in facilitating the transition from centration to more flexible, comprehensive thinking. By engaging in activities that promote perspective-taking, comparison, classification, and logical reasoning, children can develop their cognitive skills and reduce the influence of centration.