Describe the characteristics of Jean Piaget's stage of formal operational thought and give examples of each characteristic. Discuss David Elkind's conceptualization of adolescent egocentrism.

What will be an ideal response?

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Piaget's stage of formal operational thought has the following characteristics: Abstract reasoning: Adolescents are no longer limited to actual experiences as anchors for thought. They can conjure up make-believe situations, events that are purely hypothetical possibilities or abstract propositions, and can try to reason logically about them. For example, adolescents are capable of verbal problem solving. 
Thinking of possibilities: Adolescents engage in extended speculation about ideal characteristics-qualities they desire in themselves and in others. 
Hypothetical-deductive reasoning: Adolescents think more like scientists, devising plans to solve problems and systematically testing solutions. 
Adolescent egocentrism is the heightened self-consciousness of adolescents. David Elkind (1976) argues that adolescent egocentrism has two key components: The imaginary audience is adolescents' belief that others are as interested in them as they themselves are, as well as attention-getting behavior. For example, adolescents believe everyone is watching them when they enter the room or go to school. 
The personal fable is the part of adolescent egocentrism, involving a sense of uniqueness and invincibility. Adolescents believe they are unique; it can't happen to them; and risky behavior is encouraged.