Which cognitive development stage involves the development of reflexive behaviors?

Study for the ETS Psychology Test. Improve your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The stage that involves the development of reflexive behaviors is the sensorimotor stage. This stage occurs from birth to approximately two years of age and is characterized by the infant's exploration of the world through their senses and actions. During this period, reflexes—such as sucking and grasping—start to develop and are foundational to later cognitive growth. The infant begins to engage in activities that help them understand object permanence and cause-and-effect relationships.

The reflexive behaviors observed in the sensorimotor stage are crucial as they form the building blocks for more complex cognitive processes that emerge in later stages of development. As the child matures, these reflexes evolve into more deliberate actions, laying the groundwork for future learning and problem-solving skills. Reflexive behaviors are less prominent in the subsequent stages of cognitive development, such as the preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages, which focus on increasingly sophisticated thinking, reasoning, and understanding of the world.

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