Qualitative Dimensions of Social Cognition in Adulthood

Structural views assume that a single, comprehensive system of thought underlies cognitive activity. Although developmental research with both children and adults has tended to assume the validity of a structural model of cognitive development, this assumption may be invalid when applied to the social cognitive judgments of adults. There are two basic concerns in examining the area of social cognition in adulthood. First, the concept of social cognition, its measurement and definition, cannot be simply conceived in a unitary fashion. Social judgments across a variety of different situations suggest patterns of heterogeneity and inconsistency across empirical studies. Secondly, social cognitive understanding represents development of the personal domain of knowledge. Knowledge in adulthood becomes increasingly domain-specific and expert. Adult competence within the logico-mathematico domain alone appears incapable of explaining the social cognitive skills of adulthood. However, domain general descriptions of the unique qualitative dimensions of post-formal thinking by themselves are not sufficient to account for the emerging facility of adult social cognitive expertise. Social cognitive performance in adulthood is simultaneously marked by the growth of both post-formal thinking styles and expert knowledge within the personal domain. A reference list is appended. (NRB) ******************************************t**************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or OrgantiattOn onginating et 1141nOt changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this docu ment do not necessarily represent othoal NIE position Of Do Itty "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY peza/ ,e,e,D00/7 TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)" Paper presented at Gerontological Society of America Meetings, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 1985 Qualitative Dimensions of Social Cognition in Adulthood Paul A. Roodin and John M. Rybash SUNY College at Oswego Mohawk Valley Community College