Developmental Stage 11-15From 11-15 years old, there is a progression of the developmental stages of new cognitive abilities... Towards the end of the period...they have complete conceptual and abstract thinking abilities... They can talk about concepts...possibilities...from hypotheses and conclusions...and use rules to solve abstract problems... During this final developmental stage...a new type of egocentrism emerges...which may explain some behaviors and attitudes commonly associated with young teens... Because of their increased cognitive abilities...they can imagine what others may be thinking... They tend to believe that others are thinking about them....and that they are as critical in their thinking as the teens are of themselves... This is the "age of peer pressure"...Teens often develop concerns about social issues...and their identity... As their thinking ability has developed...so does their questioning of adult authority... They no longer view their parents as the source of absolute truth... Early teen years... are often marked with withdrawal from their family as they step towards independence... |