The final stage in Piaget's cognitive development theory (beginning around age 11) characterized by abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and systematic problem-solving. Individuals can think about possibilities, test hypotheses, and consider multiple variables simultaneously.
Coined by Piaget in the 1950s, 'formal' comes from Latin 'formalis' meaning relating to form or structure, emphasizing the ability to work with abstract forms and logical structures rather than just concrete objects. 'Operational' refers to mental operations that can now be performed on ideas rather than just physical things.
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