Question

Piaget's stage theory ends when children enter puberty, with his formal operational stage. Perry studied how college students progress beyond formal operational stage: first how they move from a dualistic (right versus wrong) view of the universe to a more relativistic view, and second, how they develop commitments  within this relativistic world. We have not discussed Perry in class. I am interested in knowing whether you agree or disagree with his perspective on human cognitive development. In other words where do you position yourself stage wise.

Answer 1

William Perry takes the cognitive development a step ahead where Jean Piaget stopped. He discusses various stages of cognitive development in college student that begin with the simple stage of dualism and culiminate in higher thinking ability of commitment in relativism.

Dualism is a student's perspective where they see, problems and solutions to them, as either right or wrong or good or bad, under the guidance of authority as teachers or parents. They know that there are some problems that cannot be looked through the lens of this right and wrong , or is not purely black or white,but has a different shade. Students adhere to their boundaries limited by the authority and does not accept these shades.

Multiplicity is a stage where the student begins to venture out their boundaries and begins to explore the world. At this stage they disagree with that authority figure and begins to look for the solutions that have shades other than the black and white. They look for the ambiguity around them and begin to accept them.

Relativism, the next stage in the cognitive development where the student begins to relate this multiplicity or ambiguities of their world to different contexts and accept these as realities. For most of them, the intellectual development comes to a halt and they continue in this stage for the rest of their life.

Commitment in relativism, the last stage of student cognitive development, in which few of them moves into. At this stage, they realize their responsibilities and strives for them, they adapt themselves to the new contexts with their insight, critical thinking and experiences. They blend these to come out with solutions that are originally of theirs and continues. to be committed to the goals of life.

These stage are not smooth, but are abrupt with dissonances of their own kind. Accepting the diverse situations of life and committing to the tasks of life by blending one's experiences, these diverse situations with insight and critical thinking is not an easy task, but we go through these stages and attain our own perspective to life, and this is Perry's perspective of human cognitive development all about.