Final answer:
According to Piaget, the most significant change in adolescent thinking is the development of formal operational thought, which allows for abstract thinking, systematic problem-solving, and the ability to reason about hypothetical scenarios.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Piaget, the most remarkable change in adolescent thinking is their development of the ability to engage in formal operational thought. This cognitive development, typically emerging between the ages of 11 and 20, marks a period where individuals move beyond concrete thinking to be able to perform abstract thinking and hypothesis testing. Adolescents begin to conceptualize and reason about hypothetical situations, think about abstract concepts such as justice or freedom, and consider multiple perspectives in their problem-solving processes.
The transition to formal operational thought represents a significant cognitive milestone in Piaget's theory. It enables teenagers to deal with intricate problems and envisage a range of solutions. Unlike the concrete operational stage, the formal operational stage includes the capacity for systematic problem-solving and the ability to engage in thoughtful debates on various topics such as politics and religion.
Despite the advancements in formal operational thought during adolescence, some researchers have proposed the existence of a subsequent cognitive phase known as the postformal stage, where logic and emotion are integrated, and decisions are made based on the contextually rich adult world.