What characteristic of pre-operational thought is demonstrated when a preschool-age child believes their doll is scared to be alone?

The belief that a doll is scared to be alone exemplifies animism, which is a characteristic of pre-operational thought in young children. Animism refers to the tendency of children to attribute human-like qualities and emotions to inanimate objects, animals, or phenomena. When a preschool-age child feels that their doll experiences fear, they are projecting their own feelings onto the doll and treating it as if it possesses the same emotional experiences as a human.

This understanding of animism stems from the developmental stage identified by cognitive psychologist Jean Piaget, where children’s thinking is characterized by a limited ability to distinguish between their own perspective and that of others. In this case, the child is using their understanding of emotions to relate to an object, thereby demonstrating their imaginative and creative thought processes typical in pre-operational development.