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The literature on animistic thought is reviewed, beginning with the initial work by Piaget. In addition to the coverage of the empirical work, methodological and theoretical issues are discussed extensively, including methods of analysis, semantic problems and response bias, the stage concept, and the influence of specific experiences. Animism in adults is also discussed and concluded to be not of the same character as that found in children. The suggestion is made that new conceptualizations of animism and improved methods of investigation are needed to stimulate further research efforts. A number of such conceptualizations are presented.

The verbatim definitions of the words contained in the Stanford-Binet (Form L-M) vocabulary subtest from subjects ranging in age from six years to advanced old age were subjected to qualitative analysis. The findings were that synonyms increased in frequency through childhood and were the predominant form of response throughout adulthood, that use and description forms were rare but were somewhat more common in the youngest subjects, that explanations were slightly more frequent in the adult years, that demonstration and illustration forms were rare and indicated no age trend, and that errors decreased through the childhood and adolescent years. These findings are discussed in terms of the value of such qualitative analyses and in consideration of the distinction between ontogenetic and cohort changes. 1 The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Erwin S. Huston and Norman C. Storck in making available the subject sample. Appreciation is also extended to Elva Herbst, Lynn Matthews, and Nancy Pecheriza for their considerable help in public relations in this project, to Lydia B. Storck and Lawrence Hubert for their assistance in the data analysis, and to the 180 persons who made themselves available for our work.2 Requests for reprints should be sent to Patricia