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Adolescent egocentrism and cognitive functioning during late adolescence
R F Rycek1, S L Stuhr, J McDermott
1Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 68849, USA.
Adolescence
|January 14, 1999
Summary
Adolescent egocentrism, particularly the imaginary audience, was studied in college students. Females exhibited higher egocentrism, with a slight negative link to cognitive reasoning in late adolescence.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Development
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Adolescent egocentrism is a developmental stage characterized by self-absorption.
- Post-formal thinking represents advanced cognitive reasoning beyond formal operational thought.
- Understanding the interplay between these constructs is crucial for developmental psychology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between adolescent egocentrism and post-formal thinking in college undergraduates.
- To examine gender differences in adolescent egocentrism and its correlation with cognitive reasoning.
Main Methods:
- 163 college undergraduates participated in the study.
- Participants completed the Imaginary Audience Scale to measure egocentrism.
- The Social Paradigm Belief Inventory assessed post-formal thinking and cognitive reasoning.
Main Results:
- Females demonstrated significantly higher levels of adolescent egocentrism compared to males.
- A weak negative correlation was observed between egocentrism and cognitive reasoning in late adolescent females.
- These results align with previous research on adolescent egocentrism in females.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent egocentrism, especially the imaginary audience, persists into college age, particularly in females.
- Cognitive reasoning may be inversely related to egocentrism in late adolescent females.
- Further research is needed to explore the nuances of egocentrism and cognitive development across genders.