Cognitive Development in Adulthood

Three main approaches
1) Piagetian:
changes in 'thinking'

2) Psychometric :
changes in 'I.Q.' (or knowledge ?)

3) Information Processing:
changes in processing


Adult (post-formal) thinking is more personal, practical, and integrative; more accepting of contradictions and inconsistencies in everyday life.

Post-formal thinking is characterized by:
1) Relativism
2) Acceptance of contradictions
3) Integration

There are general developmental transitions from
being concerned with questions of:
What should I know?
to: How should I use what I know?
to: Why should I know?
(after Schaie)