{"id":23714,"date":"2023-04-23T00:33:17","date_gmt":"2023-04-23T00:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/?p=23714"},"modified":"2023-09-03T01:01:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-03T01:01:21","slug":"transitivity-psychology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/transitivity-psychology\/","title":{"rendered":"Transitivity (Psychology): Definition and 10 Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"transitivity<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Transitivity, sometimes referred to as transitive inference<\/a>, is the ability to understand the relational properties between objects or concepts. For instance, if a German Shepherd is a dog, and a dog is a mammal, then a German Shepherd must be a mammal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transitivity is a concept from Piaget\u2019s theory of cognitive development. According to Piaget, children develop transitivity during the concrete operational stage, which occurs between the ages of 7 and 11 or 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Transitivity in Piaget\u2019s Psychology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the words of Inhelder and Piaget (1958):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“\u2026if x implies y and if y implies z, then x implies z.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This cognitive ability is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c…acquired during the concrete stage for serial ordering of asymmetrical transitive relations: A < B, B < C, thus A < C\u201d (p. 306).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Bouwmeester et al. (2007) define a transitive inference task succinctly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cA transitive reasoning task requires the inference of an unknown relationship between two objects from the known relationships between each of these objects and a third object\u201d (p. 42).<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Successfully performing this type of task demonstrates the ability to think logically, which Piaget believed key to the development of more advanced cognitive skills.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At What Age and Developmental Stage do Children Develop Transitivity?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Piaget\u2019s (1959) theory of children’s cognitive development<\/a>, transitivity develops during the concrete operational stage (ages 7 to 11 or 12 years old).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being capable of transitive inference is connected to reaching other concrete operational milestones<\/a>, such as performing reversibility<\/em><\/a> and understanding conservation<\/em><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this stage, the child is no longer limited to making judgements solely based on the perceptual properties of stimuli, but can instead use logic and perform purely mental operations to make inferences<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children also begin to overcome the limitations of egocentrism<\/em>. They can see physical objects and certain issues from the point of view of others. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is part of a foundation for the development of social skills and emotional intelligence.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Transitivity Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n