The concept of object permanence primarily applies to which of Piaget's developmental periods?

The concept of object permanence is a fundamental aspect of cognitive development identified by Jean Piaget during the sensorimotor period, which spans from birth to approximately 2 years of age. This concept refers to the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard.

During the sensorimotor period, children learn about the world through their senses and actions. They begin to realize that objects have an existence independent of their immediate perception, which is a crucial developmental milestone. This understanding is typically achieved by the end of the second year.

The other developmental periods—preoperational, concrete operations, and formal operations—focus on different cognitive capabilities that emerge after the foundational understanding of object permanence has been established. For example, the preoperational period revolves around symbolic thinking and language development, while the concrete operations phase involves logical reasoning about concrete events. The formal operations period introduces abstract thinking and hypothetical reasoning. Therefore, the sensorimotor period is the correct answer because it is where the concept of object permanence is primarily developed and understood.