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Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Definition

Cognitive Development in Adolescence refers to changes and advancements in thinking abilities such as abstract reasoning, problem-solving skills, decision-making capacity etc., during teenage years.

Analogy

Consider cognitive development like upgrading from a basic smartphone to the latest model. The new phone can process more complex tasks, run multiple apps at once, and has a better understanding of commands - similar to how an adolescent's brain develops to handle more complex thoughts and multitasking.

Related terms

Formal Operational Stage: This is the final stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development where adolescents begin thinking abstractly and reasoning about hypothetical problems.

Metacognition: This refers to one's ability to think about their own thinking. It improves during adolescence allowing teenagers to plan, monitor and assess their understanding and performance.

Egocentrism in Adolescence: This is a state of self-absorption where the world is seen only from one's own perspective. It often peaks during early adolescence but gradually declines as cognitive maturity increases.