Formal Operational Stage

Definition

This is the final stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development (around age 12 and beyond), where individuals start thinking abstractly and are able to reason theoretically and hypothetically.

Related terms

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning: The ability to formulate hypotheses about how something might occur and then deduce the best way to solve it or predict its outcome.

Abstract thought: Thinking about things that are not concrete or based solely on what has been experienced directly. It includes concepts such as faith, trust, belief etc.

Metacognition: Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes - essentially thinking about thinking!