Cognitive growth in adolescence

The Transition to Formal Logical Thinking

During adolescence, which spans approximately from the ages of twelve to eighteen, young people grow in the way they think.

During this stage, there is an important shift from concrete thinking to operations known as logical and formal.

It is essential to keep in mind that each adolescent progresses at his or her own pace in his or her ability to think in increasingly complex ways.

Despite this great cognitive progress, emotional problems can interfere with an adolescent's ability to think in complex ways when faced with challenges.

Early Adolescence: Questioning and Own Opinion

An early adolescent uses more complex thinking, focused on making personal decisions that affect their life at home and at school.

It is during this phase that they begin to demonstrate the use of formal logical operations, especially in the tasks and jobs they perform at school. school.

They begin to question adult authority and societal standards, forming and expressing their own thoughts and viewpoints on many issues.

This often manifests itself in their preferences regarding friend groups, their personal appearance, or their desire for parental rules to be changed.

Middle Adolescence: Identity and Philosophical Issues

In middle adolescence, young people have more experience using thought processes that are complex and abstract.

Their thinking expands to include concerns that are much more philosophical and also futuristic in nature, beyond the immediate.

They begin to think and form their own code of ethics, and they ask themselves the fundamental question in developing their identity: "Who am I?".

They also begin to systematically consider their possible future goals and make their own plans to achieve them, asking themselves what they want to do.

Late Adolescence: Global Concepts and Social Role

In late adolescence, complex thinking focuses on concepts that are less egocentric and much more global.

They have an increase in thoughts about justice, history, politics, and patriotism, often developing idealistic views on these topics.

At times during this phase, they may debate and develop a certain intolerance toward points of view that are opposed to their own.

Finally, at this stage, the adolescent begins to focus on making decisions about their career and their emerging role within adult society.