What is an example of a behavior during the primary circular reactions stage?

During the primary circular reactions stage, which typically occurs between 1 and 4 months of age, infants engage in repeated actions centered on their own body. The key feature of this stage is that these actions are not goal-directed but rather involve simple, reflexive behaviors that the infant finds interesting and begins to repeat.

The choice involving repeatedly opening and closing fingers exemplifies this stage perfectly, as it reflects a behavior that is self-initiated and focused on the infant's own bodily movements. This action is derived from the infant’s own motor activities and does not involve external objects or complex interaction with the environment.

Other choices represent behaviors that are more advanced and indicative of later stages in cognitive development. Grasping an object with intention reflects a more purposeful interaction with the environment and requires a higher level of motor control and cognitive processing. The discovery of kicking to move an object indicates that the infant is beginning to understand the relationship between their actions and external responses, which is characteristic of secondary circular reactions that typically emerge later. Similarly, complex actions to achieve a goal are indicative of more advanced developmental stages, where infants start to combine different actions to accomplish specific objectives, which goes beyond the simple and repetitive nature of primary circular reactions.