Adolescent egocentrism: a contemporary view
Schwartz, P.D.; Maynard, A.M.; Uzelac, S.M.
Adolescence 43(171): 441-448
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 19086662 Document Number: 623952
This study sought to determine whether adolescent egocentrism is displayed during adolescence in the same patterns as when the constructs were first defined in 1967. We empirically revisited the constructs of personal fable and imaginary audience in contemporary adolescents, hypothesizing a decrease in egocentrism with increasing age. Adolescents (N = 2,390) responded to a self-report measure of adolescent egocentrism. Results revealed significant interactions between age and sex for both imaginary audience and personal fable. The results deviated from the original conceptualization discussed in 1967 and supports more recent findings suggesting the existence of adolescent egocentrism in late adolescence. Implications of these findings for those who work with adolescents are discussed.