What cognitive ability, according to Piaget, involves solving problems through hypothetical scenarios during adolescence?

The cognitive ability that Piaget describes, which involves solving problems through hypothetical scenarios during adolescence, is hypothetical-deductive reasoning. This phase signifies a developmental leap where individuals can think abstractly and systematically reason about potential outcomes based on hypothetical situations.

During this stage, adolescents can consider multiple variables and potential consequences of their actions, allowing them to formulate theories and systematically test these theories against reality. This capability is a hallmark of formal operational thought, which is the final stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. It allows for better planning and problem-solving as adolescents can manipulate ideas in their minds without needing concrete objects to work with.

While concrete reasoning refers to solving problems based on tangible and real-life experiences typically found in earlier development stages, and operational thinking is a broader term that relates to logical thought, it is the specific ability to think hypothetically and deductively that characterizes the cognitive growth Piaget associated with adolescence. Abstract reasoning, while related, is a component of hypothetical-deductive reasoning rather than a complete description of this specific capability.