What are Elkind's two classic adolescent egocentrism phenomena?

• A. Imaginary audience and personal fable
• B. Cognitive dissonance
• C. Overgeneralization
• D. Social identity theory

Answer: (A)

Elkind describes adolescent egocentrism as a heightened self-focus that makes teens feel as though everyone is watching and judging them. The two classic phenomena are the imaginary audience and the personal fable. Imaginary audience is the belief that peers are constantly attentive to one’s appearance and behavior, leading to intense self-consciousness and worry about others’ opinions. Personal fable is the sense that one’s thoughts and experiences are unique and special, often accompanied by a feeling of invulnerability that can fuel risk-taking. These two ideas are the hallmark examples Elkind used to illustrate how adolescents’ self-centered thinking operates in everyday life. Other terms like cognitive dissonance, overgeneralization, or social identity theory describe different processes and don’t capture this specific pattern of adolescent self-focus.