Erica Flood

Professor Mark Jarvis

FHS 1500
October 29, 2016
Unit 5 Essay: Option A Adolescents
Question:
Do you think that other factors besides changes in cognitive development may contribute
to adolescent egocentrism? How might the emphasis in TV commercials on appearance
affect an adolescent's concern with self? Can you recall any specific instances from your
adolescence when your thinking underwent a change? How might this change have
related to your cognitive development?
Answer:
"I am so popular." "Everyone loves me." "No one even cares about me." "No one
likes me." These are statements that an egocentric teenager may say or think. Teenagers
tend to be focused on them. They worry about what others think of them, and they want
to fit in with those around them. If a teacher, or someone they may know makes some
sort of face at them, even if it is unintentional, adolescence may automatically assume
that they have done something wrong, or that they are not loved. On the other hand, when
someone smiles at an adolescent, or when someone has a casual conversation with him or
her, the adolescent may feel that they are loved and that they are popular. If there is a cute
boy that is friendly with an adolescent girl, she may assume that he likes he or thinks that
she is attractive. It seems as though adolescents have a distorted view of themselves.
They have rapid mood swings, and seem to change their minds about how others feel
about them.
Egocentrism is an idea from Jean Piaget. He believes that teenagers are past the
concrete operation thinking, and they have now moved on to the formal operation thought

stage. That is "The fourth and final stage of cognitive development, characterized by
systematic logical thinking and by understanding abstractions." (Berger, 2016, p. 330).
Under abstract thinking falls egocentrism.
Changes in cognitive development are not the only reason why teenagers may be
egocentric. Teenagers deal with the pressures of the media. There are TV shows, movies,
even commercials that encourage others to dress a certain way, or act a certain way.
These pressures can lead to feelings of inadequacy and even a poor body image of
themselves. These negative feelings about themselves can lead to more egocentric
thoughts and feelings of judgment from others.
While reading the textbook I notice that I was this way when I was a teenager. I
cared too much about what others thought about me. Either I thought that they really
liked me and accepted me, or I thought that they hated me. I didn't have much to back up
my thoughts other than looks they would give me, or things I would hear.
I just recently had a conversation with one of my good friends. He is attending
college at the University of Utah. He said that every day in class he looks around the
room and observes what others are wearing. He makes it a personal goal to be the best
dressed in the class. Every day he will compare himself to others and see if he has
reached his goal for the day. He asked me if that was something I do as well. I told him
that I haven't worried about that since I was in High School. I do not care enough to
compare myself to other people, and I'm fine not being the best dressed. I have noticed a
shift in my thinking the older I get. I do not seem to care as much about what others may
think of me.
WC: 518

Reference:
Berger, K. S. (2016). Invitation to the life span (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Worth
Publishers.