Adolescent Egocentrism and Delinquent Behaviors Essay

Adolescent Egocentrism

Posting #3 Read articles choose interest. Analyze articles describe leadership roles discussed. Compare attributes nurse leaders. •http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/home/News/women/mch_midwives.

The influence of adolescent egocentrism (personal fable, imaginary audience, invincibility) on delinquent behavior

Parents often refer to adolescents as egocentric and self-centered. However, this is not simply a subjective moral judgment of a frustrated mother or father -- it is an identified product of the biological and social experience of being an adolescent. Adolescent egocentrism is different from the egocentrism of a very young child that perceives no differentiation between self and other (Alberts, Elkind & Ginsberg 2007: 71). With adolescents, egocentrism manifests itself in what is called the 'imaginary audience' or the belief that everyone in the world is equally preoccupied with the adolescent as him or herself. An adolescent might spend hours getting ready to go to a casual party than an adult might prepare for a half hour after work. Another adolescent might become enraged at a sarcastic comment of a peer or teacher and lash out violently, either at his perceived tormentor or by 'acting out' with delinquent behaviors. Adolescents are more inclined to take slights personally and feel that the world, the educational or justice system, or other people 'against them' and deserve to be disobeyed.

A corollary to the 'imaginary audience' is the 'personal fable,' or the sense that the adolescent is very special and unique. This can lead to an overestimation of the adolescent's problems (like a bad grade) and anger at others who do not acknowledge that specialness. This can make the adolescent very unwilling to take advice from adults who cannot 'understand.' Adolescents may engage in black-and-white thinking and see themselves as 'the best' or 'the worst' at everything. Their over-estimation of the need for peer approval can cause them to trust in the judgment of their…