Question: I'm the parent of a young tween who hasn't yet shown signs of adolescent egocentrism. I'm not looking forward to the egocentric behavior I've heard about. Is there any way I can help my child skip the egocentric stage?
Answer: Your apprehension is understandable. Egocentric adolescents can be difficult to deal with: they're simultaneously self-conscious and certain that they're special and unique.
What a combination! Typically, though, the egocentric stage is nothing more than a nuisance, and it actually serves an important purpose in development: helping your child find his identity. It wasn't fun waking up every two hours with your newborn, either, but she had to eat so you did it. So too in dealing with adolescent egocentrism.
That said, though, the best thing you can do to help your child act less egocentric is to be supportive of him or her. Studies show that supportive parenting may decrease egocentric thought. Supportiveness may also help your child avoid the negative behaviors that can accompany the egocentric stage, including risk taking, eating disorders and substance abuse.
Why does parental support affect egocentrism? Because children with highly supportive parents don't need to worry about keeping a healthy connection with their family while forming their unique identities. In other words, supported children feel like they can be themselves while still being accepted by their parents.
They therefore don't need extreme egocentric thought to help them break away from the family.
Source:
Vartanian, Lesa Rae. Revisiting the imaginary audience and personal fable constructs of adolescent egocentrism: A conceptual review. Adolescence. (2000). 35(140): 639-661.
Answer: Your apprehension is understandable. Egocentric adolescents can be difficult to deal with: they're simultaneously self-conscious and certain that they're special and unique.
What a combination! Typically, though, the egocentric stage is nothing more than a nuisance, and it actually serves an important purpose in development: helping your child find his identity. It wasn't fun waking up every two hours with your newborn, either, but she had to eat so you did it. So too in dealing with adolescent egocentrism.
That said, though, the best thing you can do to help your child act less egocentric is to be supportive of him or her. Studies show that supportive parenting may decrease egocentric thought. Supportiveness may also help your child avoid the negative behaviors that can accompany the egocentric stage, including risk taking, eating disorders and substance abuse.
Why does parental support affect egocentrism? Because children with highly supportive parents don't need to worry about keeping a healthy connection with their family while forming their unique identities. In other words, supported children feel like they can be themselves while still being accepted by their parents.
They therefore don't need extreme egocentric thought to help them break away from the family.
Source:
Vartanian, Lesa Rae. Revisiting the imaginary audience and personal fable constructs of adolescent egocentrism: A conceptual review. Adolescence. (2000). 35(140): 639-661.