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A-Not-B Problem

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Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior

Synonyms

Perseveration; Perseverative error; Stage IV error

Definition

The A-not-B error arises from the difficulty of switching an action directed toward one location toward a new location. The original set-up, called visible displacement, involves hiding a toy in location A while an infant is watching. The child is then allowed to search for it. If they retrieve the toy it is seen as an indication of object permanence – the understanding that objects continue to exist even if they are no longer perceived. After a number of repeats of this hide and seek procedure, the toy is then obviously hidden in a different location, B. Up to a certain developmental stage, infants persevere in searching in location A instead of B. This is called the A-not-B error. This behavior can be observed in reaching tasks, but also in larger spatial set-ups that require detours.

Introduction

When Piaget published his theory of child development in 1937 (1954in English), it quickly became absorbed by...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Politics and Sociology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK

    Britta Osthaus

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  1. Britta Osthaus
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Correspondence to Britta Osthaus .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University , Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Jennifer Vonk

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University Department of Psychology, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Southern Oregon University, 97520, Ashland, OR, USA

    Mark A. Krause

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Osthaus, B. (2017). A-Not-B Problem. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1096-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1096-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

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