After having unprotected sex with his girlfriend,16-year-old Earl says,"I never worry about getting AIDS because tough guys like me are immune to those kinds of diseases." This ill-fated thinking is reflective of

Question

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Earl's belief that he is immune to AIDS because he is a "tough guy" reflects the personal fable, a cognitive distortion typical of adolescent egocentrism. The personal fable is the belief that one is special, unique, and invulnerable, which can lead to reckless behavior and a failure to take precautions against sexually transmitted diseases. The other answer choices are not applicable to Earl's thinking in this scenario.

After Having Unprotected Sex with His Girlfriend,16-Year-Old Earl Says,"I Never