Final answer:
Jean Piaget posited that during the formal operational stage, individuals develop the ability to engage in abstract thought, which includes logical thinking about abstract ideas and hypothetical situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Jean Piaget, during the formal operational stage, individuals acquire abstract thought. This is the highest level of cognitive development, typically developing between 11 and 20 years old. At this stage, adolescents can think logically about both concrete events and abstract ideas. According to Jean Piaget, during the formal operational stage, individuals acquire abstract thought. This is the highest level of cognitive development, typically developing between 11 and 20 years old. At this stage, adolescents can think logically about both concrete events and abstract ideas. They can engage in hypothetical reasoning, consider multiple viewpoints, and problem-solve by looking at alternative solutions. Piaget's stages of cognitive development include the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and finally, the formal operational stage. They can engage in hypothetical reasoning, consider multiple viewpoints, and problem-solve by looking at alternative solutions. Piaget's stages of cognitive development include the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and finally, the formal operational stage.