Patrick wakes up one morning before high school to find that he has developed an enormous pimple right on the end of his nose. All throughout the day he is absolutely sure that everyone is staring at the blemish, when in reality almost nobody cares enough about it to even look. Patrick's certainty that he is the focus of others' attention demonstrates ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patrick's belief that everyone is staring at his pimple is an example of the imaginary audience, a concept from adolescence where individuals believe that they are constantly being watched and judged by others. This is a common cognitive distortion during the teenage years, where individuals may overestimate the importance of their own appearance or behavior to others. It is not related to identity moratorium, adolescent arrogance, or limited centration.

Patrick Wakes Up One Morning Before High School to Find