Many teenagers have a concept known as the Personal Fable, which tells them that they are so special and different from everyone else that no matter what happens in life, it won’t effect them.
Teenagers are said to think that they are special and different, and that other people are continually observing and assessing them; these ideas are referred to as the personal fable and the imaginary audience, respectively. These two concepts have been used frequently in textbooks on the development of adolescents and have been proposed as reasons for risk-taking and self-consciousness.
The term “personal fable” was first coined by the psychologist David Elkind in his 1967 work Egocentrism in Adolescence.
Adolescents who are fascinated with their own thoughts to the extent that they feel their experiences or thoughts are wholly original and distinct from those of others may develop feelings of uniqueness. This view is the result of the adolescent’s over-differentiation of sentiments and incapacity to distinguish between the concern(s) of their thoughts and the ideas of others. As a result, an adolescent may believe that they are the only ones who can possibly be feeling whatever it is they are experiencing at that specific moment and that their experiences are unique, while also likely believing that everyone else (the imaginary audience) is as concerned about them as they are. As stated by David Elkind, “this complex of beliefs in the uniqueness of (the adolescent’s) feelings and of his or her immortality might be called a ‘personal fable’, a story which he or she tells himself and which is not true.”
Though Normal but Risky
You shouldn’t be concerned that your youngster will become a narcissist or self-centered adult if you believe that your tween or teen has created a personal fable. Belief in the personal fable is a developmentally normal cognitive limitation. However, personal fables may also lead to tweens and adolescents thinking they are all-powerful and possess immense qualities that others lack. In fact, a child’s self-worth and ability to cope with life’s challenges and transitions can both be enhanced by this idea.
Personal Fables and Self-Esteem: Are they same?
Belief in the personal fable should not be confused with having high self-esteem. Tweens or teens with low self-esteem usually still hold a version of the personal fable.
As no one thinks quite as critically as they do, they could even view their critical self-judgments as “proof” of their special distinctiveness. Put another way, even if they may not consider themselves to be “excellent” or “special,” teenagers who have a personal fable usually think they are unique.
How Personal Fables look like:
Adolescent claims that are typical of personal fables are as follows:
“Nobody understands me.”
“My parents just don’t know what I’m going through– what do they know about what it’s like being a teenager?”
“You just don’t know how it feels.”
“My beloved recently broke up with me, and no one could possibly understand the unbearable pain I’m feeling..”
Adolescent Behaviours Examples
Believing that their thoughts or feelings are the only ones that matter: Adolescents frequently think they are invincible and overestimate their own views because they feel that no one else can fully comprehend or value the depth of their feelings and thoughts.
Thinking they are impervious to criticism: Teens may have an unwavering sense of self-worth and confidence, thinking they are immune to criticism or error.
Believing in omnipotence: Because they overestimate their own skills, some teenagers may believe that they have total control over the results of relationships, academic performance, and professional objectives.
Believing that they are the only ones who can feel intense emotions: Teens typically feel alone and alienated, which can be made worse by social comparison, because they think no one else could possibly feel emotions as deeply as they do.
Exaggerating the significance of peer acceptance: Teens may place an excessive amount of weight on their popularity among peers or friends, thinking that if they are unpopular, their life would be meaningless. However, as self-acceptance becomes increasingly crucial as one ages, this idea is frequently contested.
Dismissing counsel without weighing its benefits: Teenagers who have an exaggerated feeling of self-importance may disregard parental or educational guidance without carefully weighing its benefits. Despite the fact that such assistance can eventually make it easier for them to deal with challenging circumstances in the future.
Risk-taking behavior due to feeling invincible: Adolescents who overestimate their talents may also engage in hazardous behaviours like drug use or reckless driving. This kind of conduct stems from an underlying notion that because they are somehow “special,” nothing unpleasant could ever happen to them.
Thinking there’s no such thing as failure: Adolescents who fear losing the respect or admiration of their peers may refuse to accept defeat in any situation. They are perpetuating the notion that their identity is centred more around outside approval than it is about inner fortitude and resiliency.
Ignoring the repercussions of reckless behaviour: Teenagers who get their confidence from personal fables may make decisions without considering the possible repercussions. Because they have unfavourable presumptions about other people’s capacity to hold them responsible for their actions, they feel immune to consequences.
Elkind claims that when teenagers go from infancy to maturity, their viewpoints change, which causes them to become more egocentric.(Lerner & Jovanovic, 2016).
Exaggerated sense of self-importance and individuality are characteristics of this egocentrism, which makes people believe that their experiences and emotions are distinct from those of others.
Elkind argued that this egocentrism causes teenagers to overestimate their own significance and ability while undervaluing the influence of other factors on their life, resulting in the development of a “personal fable” centred around one’s own supremacy.
In addition, Elkind proposed that this type of thinking could lead to risk-taking behavior or feelings of loneliness, which could be exacerbated by social comparison (Lerner & Jovanovic, 2016).
So, despite the fact that teenagers often have a strong sense of right and wrong, he shed light on why they may act hastily or carelessly.
The potential negative outcomes of exhibiting such behavior include:
- Isolation
- Detachment from others
- An unwavering confidence that one’s perspectives or circumstances are immune to criticism.
These people may engage in risk taking behaviours because they either believe they are invincible or exaggerate their own powers.
Strategies for Managing Personal Fable
Teenagers may handle personal fable in a number of ways, all of which help to keep them grounded and more equipped to deal with the outside influences that accompany it.
Here is a brief overview of some effective strategies for managing personal fable:
Stressing Practical Input
One strategy is to emphasize constructive criticism from reliable sources, such peers, family, and instructors, as opposed to depending solely on internal discussion.
Without laying too much focus on conceited notions of self-importance, it can assist teenagers in gaining perspective on their unique talents and shortcomings..
Introducing Teens to Engaging Activities
Furthermore, exposing teenagers to activities outside of their comfort zone in a nurturing setting may help to counteract personal fable.
Engaging in extracurricular activities such as working at a local charity or joining a sports team gives youngsters practical experience that can help them assess their talents and abilities in comparison to others.
Putting Emotions First
Lastly, controlling personal fables may also benefit from giving teenagers significant opportunity to practise moving from their minds into their hearts via mindfulness exercises like yoga or meditation.
These activities, which centre on sensations rather than concepts, might assist young people in realising who they really are, as opposed to the fictional identity that they frequently conjure up through personal fables.
Last Words
A personal fable is a psychological idea that frequently appears in adolescence when people are trying to figure out who they are and how to stand out from the crowd. This phenomena can result in elevated risk-taking behaviour, loneliness, and an inability to take realistic feedback, but it can also lead to enhanced self-confidence and emotional growth. Parents, teachers, and other adults may control and lessen the consequences of personal fable on teens by gaining a grasp of its causes and effects.
