Adult Cognition, Moral Growth, and Higher Education — Summary of Chapter 18 from The Developing Person

Chapter 18 of The Developing Person Through the Life Span explores the deepening of cognition, the maturation of moral reasoning, and the transformative effects of higher education during emerging adulthood. As individuals transition into their 20s, they enter a phase of life where logic, emotion, ethics, and real-world application begin to intertwine. This blog summarizes the key insights from this chapter, making it an essential resource for psychology students and anyone interested in adult development.

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Postformal and Dialectical Thought

While Piaget’s formal operational stage ends in adolescence, cognitive growth continues into adulthood. Postformal thought characterizes adult thinking as more practical, flexible, and integrative of emotion and logic. This stage allows individuals to navigate ambiguity, make nuanced decisions, and accept that multiple perspectives can coexist.

More advanced still is dialectical thought—the ability to understand and synthesize contradictions. This type of reasoning involves:

• Thesis: An initial belief or argument
• Antithesis: A contradictory or opposing viewpoint
• Synthesis: A reconciled understanding that integrates both perspectives

Adults who develop these skills can respond to complexity with both reason and empathy, making them better equipped for modern challenges.

Stereotype Threat and Emotional Intelligence

Stereotype threat refers to the fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one’s social group. This fear can impair performance, particularly in academic settings. Postformal thinkers, however, can buffer these effects by applying emotional regulation strategies and reframing stress through deeper cognitive processing.

Moral Development and Faith

Chapter 18 outlines key theories in adult moral development:

• James Rest’s Defining Issues Test (DIT): Measures moral reasoning based on how individuals rank moral dilemmas. Education—especially in ethics—can improve DIT scores over time.
• Fowler’s Stages of Faith: Tracks the evolution of faith from childhood self-centeredness to universal ethical understanding in adulthood, emphasizing justice, compassion, and self-awareness.
• Jonathan Haidt’s Moral Foundations Theory: Proposes five moral dimensions: care, fairness, freedom, authority, and purity. These values differ by culture and ideology, offering insight into moral diversity.

The Transformative Power of Higher Education

Higher education supports adult development in numerous ways. The chapter introduces the concept of massification—the idea that widespread college access benefits not just individuals, but society as a whole.

Key benefits of college include:

• Critical Thinking: Exposure to diverse viewpoints and intellectual challenges stimulates postformal and dialectical reasoning.
• Moral Growth: Especially in courses focused on ethics, politics, and philosophy.
• Better Life Outcomes: Higher income, better health, and greater civic engagement.

Modern educational methods—like flipped classrooms, collaborative learning, and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)—are reshaping how students engage with knowledge. Still, many students face serious challenges, such as:

• Financial strain
• Mental health concerns
• Difficulty navigating large or impersonal institutions

Supportive college environments that foster intellectual engagement, diversity, and emotional support are most effective in helping students develop cognitively and morally.

Conclusion: A Time of Cognitive and Ethical Expansion

Chapter 18 emphasizes that adulthood is not the end of cognitive or moral growth, but a beginning. Emerging adults learn to think critically, understand complexity, and form ethical worldviews that shape their personal and professional futures. Education plays a central role in this process, offering tools that promote resilience, empathy, and informed decision-making.

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