In developmental psychology, which concept describes the belief that others are constantly evaluating your appearance and behavior?

• A. Egocentrism
• B. Personal fable
• C. Imaginary audience
• D. Puberty

Answer: (C)

Imaginary audience is the belief that others are always watching and evaluating your appearance and behavior. This tends to peak in adolescence, when self-consciousness is high and you imagine you’re the focus of everyone’s attention. It helps explain why teens might feel like a zit, a new outfit, or a misstep at lunch is being scrutinized by all their peers, even if that’s not really the case.

Egocentrism, in a broader sense, is about not fully considering others’ viewpoints, but it isn’t specifically about being watched or judged. Personal fable describes feeling uniquely special or invincible, not about being observed. Puberty is a biological development stage, not a belief about others’ scrutiny.