Final answer:
The personal fable leads adolescents to be deeply concerned about others' opinions as they develop their identities and try to reconcile their need for individuality with their desire to fit in with peers.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with the personal fable, adolescents are concerned about the opinions of others because these years are a critical point in their development of self-identity and autonomy. The concept of the personal fable is part of the larger framework of adolescent egocentrism, which makes teenagers believe that their thoughts, feelings, and experiences are unique and not understood by others, often leading to an exaggerated sense of their own importance. This can result in a heightened sensitivity to others' opinions as they attempt to carve out a unique identity while still wanting to fit in with their peer group.
During this stage, peers and peer influence become significantly important, sometimes more influential than parental guidance, especially when it comes to forming a system of moral and ethical values. However, it's also a myth that teens only listen to their friends; teens report that parents and other caring adults are major influences on their behavior, particularly in critical areas like sexual behavior. Ultimately, the focus on others' opinions is a way for adolescents to navigate the challenges of identity versus role confusion, as outlined in Erikson's stages of psychosocial development.