Which term refers to the belief that non-living objects have lifelike qualities?

Which term refers to the belief that non-living objects have lifelike qualities?

• A. Reversibility
• B. Metacognition
• C. Animism
• D. Egocentrism

Answer: (C)

Animism is the belief that non-living objects have lifelike qualities. In early childhood, children often attribute life or feelings to things around them, like thinking a toy car wants to move or that the sun is following them. This shows how thinking at this stage is guided by appearance and personal experience rather than logic. It differs from reversibility (the idea that actions can be mentally undone), metacognition (awareness of one's own thinking), and egocentrism (difficulty seeing another's point of view). The focus here is on assigning life or intent to inanimate things.

Animism is the belief that non-living objects have lifelike qualities. In early childhood, children often attribute life or feelings to things around them, like thinking a toy car wants to move or that the sun is following them. This shows how thinking at this stage is guided by appearance and personal experience rather than logic. It differs from reversibility (the idea that actions can be mentally undone), metacognition (awareness of one's own thinking), and egocentrism (difficulty seeing another's point of view). The focus here is on assigning life or intent to inanimate things.