Question

Marco is a teenager and is arguing with his father about borrowing the car on Friday night. Out of frustration Marco states, "Dad, you don't know what it feels like to be a teenager. You have no clue what about what I'm going through, and how not having a car on Friday night is going to kill my social life. I swear, no one will be drinking at the party. Why don't you believe me?" Which of the following best describes the cognitive limitation Marco is experiencing?

A. imaginary audience
B. personal fable
C. mnemonic device
D. egocentrism

Answer 1

Letter B is the correct answer.

Marco is experiencing a cognitive limitation known as personal fable. This term was first used by the psychologist David Elkind to describe a phenomenon very common among kids and teens. Personal fable is a cognitive limitation experienced by most adolescents that arises from egocentrism. They become so self-centered that they don't differentiate themselves from others and have a hard time considering other people's perspectives.