Ferrets and Piaget? Now that is a stretch. Maybe something about "conservation of raisins" or "the ferretone disappearing under the blanket." (Psych ed students will know what I mean.) Alphachi mentioned that "Piaget constructed an entire theory on the dynamics of human development based on the observation of his own children. Overtime, most of his findings have withstood with little or no modification despite countless attempts to do so through other numerous and scientific means. Just dumb luck? Or did he wisely use the aforementioned cornerstones to fruition? Perhaps you mistakenly consider Piaget a Luddite also. While EL's observations are far from accepted fact, I am willing to listen." Piaget's theories of child development were gospel in the 70s when I first learned them in college. Now that I am in graduate school in the 90s, I am shocked to discover that much of Piaget's theories are being debunked. Piaget based his theories not just on his own children, but on WHITE UPPER CLASS EUROPEAN children. He assumed that these children represented the epitome of social accomplishment. He assigned a hierarchechal standard for development that implied that "lower" levels are not as "good" as "higher" levels. Psychologists now point out that children in other cultures develop differently, based on their own societies, and that their development is not of a lesser intellectual quality. For example, American standardized testing of school children has long valued speed. Yet many African cultures value careful, slow consideration and reasoning before giving an answer. Piaget stresses such developmental milestones as eye contact and smiling. Yet many Asian cultures do not model or encourage eye contact and smiling between children and adults because they feel it is not respectful. These are but a few examples of how Piaget's theories, which are still valuable, are being carefully re-considered. How does this apply to ferrets? I'm not sure. But since you are using Piaget to bolster your side of the discussion, I thought you should know that Piaget is no longer unchallenged. Kat [Posted in FML issue 2269]