Early Adult

Cognitive Domain

Cognitive Development

Life long process

Post Formal Thought

Less abstract Relativism: less absolute Accepts contradictions Integration - synthesizes conflicting

views Toleration for ambiguity

Other characteristics

Adaptive to real life– relates abstract to actual

Problem finding– forms new questions– catalyst for inquiry

Dialectical thought– every idea has within itself its opposite– nondialectical - either / or

Factors Prompting Changes in Thinking College Life events

Schaie’s Stages of Thinking

Late AdultMiddle AdultChild/Teen

Acquisitive Achieving

Executive

Responsible

Reintegrative

Early Adult

Schaie’s Views on Stages (1)

Acquisition– gathering information/knowledge

Achieving – goal directed, focused, specialized– What should I know?

Responsible – goals tempered by family and personal

issues

Schaie’s views on Stages (2)

Executive – complex concerns for larger systems– social consciousness– How should I use what I know?

Reintegrative– making sense of life as a whole– purpose– Why should I know?

Perry - Adaptive Cognition

Based on research on college students Dualistic thinking (younger students)

– sort information into “right” and “wrong” Relativistic thinking

– truth relative to context Developmental trend - one becomes less

constrained by a search for the right answer and more accepting of the reality of multiple truths

Labouvie-Vief’s View

Adolescents focus on myriad possibilities

Adults more grounded in practical Focus changes to solving real world

problems

Expertise and Creativity

Expertise - specialization; in depth Impact - efficient problem solving

– apply underlying principles– some facets of problem solving automatic– effective analysis and planning

Essential component of creativity– movement toward problem finding– not all experts are creative

Controversy: Cross-Sectional Research

Cross-sectional studies of mental abilities – peak at about 35 – sharp decline

Influence of the cohort effects– educational differences– health status

Bottom line: Sharp decline is an illusion

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