Question 1

Which of the following best describes pragmatism?

Accepted Answer

Pragmatism is the philosophical approach that emphasizes practicality and realism, and adapting logical thought to solve practical real-life situations that contain complexities and inconsistencies is in line with this philosophy. Option A is more related to cognitive psychology, option B is related to perception, and option C is related to formal logic.

Question 2

When presented with the following story, according to Labouvie-Vief, how would an adolescent who is in formal operations respond? 'Jim was a heavy drinker, especially at parties. His wife had warned him that if he came home drunk one more time, she would leave him and take the children. Sometime later he went to an office party and came home drunk. What did his wife do?'

Accepted Answer

An adolescent in formal operations would likely respond with a logical and straightforward conclusion based on the given information, as seen in choice A.

Question 3

____ involves a growing awareness that problems often have no clear solution and two opposing strategies or points of view may each have merit.

Accepted Answer

Dialectical thought involves recognizing and accepting opposing viewpoints and understanding that no clear solution may exist. This type of thinking is often seen in adulthood as people become more comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty. Option A, hypothetical-deductive reasoning, refers to the ability to generate and test hypotheses. Option B, egocentric thought, involves a self-centered perspective where individuals may struggle to see the point of view of others. Option C, hypothesis testing, is related to scientific inquiry and experimentation.

Question 4

Jean Piaget proposed that cognitive development reaches full maturity at formal operations; however, contemporary researchers propose that this is not the case, but rather that cognitive maturity extends into ____.

Accepted Answer

Post-formal thinking is the idea that cognitive development continues beyond formal operations and into adulthood. It involves more complex and nuanced thinking, such as understanding multiple viewpoints and dealing with ambiguity. Therefore, Option A is the correct answer. The other options do not describe cognitive development beyond formal operations.

Question 5

Emerging adults tended to be ____ thinkers in the sense that they realised that the problems of real life often involve a great deal of complexity and ambiguity.

Accepted Answer

Post-formal thinking is a term used to describe the type of thinking that characterizes emerging adulthood. It involves being able to recognize and deal with the complexity and ambiguity of real-life problems. This type of thinking goes beyond formal operational thinking, which is the ability to think abstractly and logically, and involves being able to understand and appreciate different perspectives and worldviews.

Question 6

Peng and Nisbett (1999) proposed that Chinese culture traditionally advocates an approach to knowledge that strives to reconcile contradictions and combine opposing perspectives by seeking a middle ground. What type of thinking is this?

Accepted Answer

The type of thinking that Peng and Nisbett (1999) proposed as prevalent in Chinese culture is dialectical thought, which seeks to reconcile contradictions and conflicting perspectives by finding a middle ground.

Question 7

____ is the capacity to evaluate the accuracy and logical coherence of evidence and arguments.

Accepted Answer

Reflective judgment refers to the capacity to evaluate the accuracy and logical coherence of evidence and arguments. Dualistic thinking refers to the tendency to view situations in terms of black and white, right or wrong, etc. Relative-hypothesis testing refers to evaluating multiple possible explanations for a phenomenon. Concrete judgment refers to the ability to think about things in a literal, factual way.

Question 8

____ involves adapting logical thinking to the practical constraints of real-life situations.

Accepted Answer

Pragmatism involves adapting logical thinking to the practical constraints of real-life situations, taking into consideration factors such as time, resources, and limitations. This involves finding practical solutions and making decisions based on what will work rather than what is ideal or theoretical.

Question 9

According to Basseches, what type of thinking develops in emerging adulthood that involves a growing awareness that problems often have no clear solution and two opposing strategies or points of view may each have some merit?

Accepted Answer

Basseches identifies dialectical thought as the type of thinking that emerges in emerging adulthood involving the ability to recognize and integrate opposing viewpoints or strategies that may both have some validity. Pragmatic thought is more focused on finding effective solutions to problems, while formal operational thought refers to the ability to reason logically about abstract concepts. Concrete thought is characteristic of childhood thinking, and does not refer to the type of thinking that develops in emerging adulthood.

Question 10

According to Piaget, formal operations are fully attained and cognitive maturation is complete by ____.

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that formal operations (the ability to think abstractly and reason hypothetically) are fully attained and cognitive maturation is complete by at least age 20.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes dualistic thinking?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following best describes dualistic...

Question 12

Caleb believes that stealing from another is wrong and there is no reason for a person to steal. Even if a person were starving and near death, he or she should not steal food. Which of the following best describes Caleb's cognitive pattern?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of dualistic thinking, which sees things as black or white, right or wrong, good or bad, with no room for gray areas or exceptions. Caleb believes that stealing is always wrong, regardless of the circumstances.

Question 13

According to Perry, reflective judgment begins to develop for most people ____.

Accepted Answer

Perry's theory suggests that reflective judgment begins to develop for most people around age 20, specifically during the later years of college.

Question 14

Peng and Nisbett (1999) conducted studies comparing Chinese and American university students. They found that when students were presented with two apparently contradictory propositions, American students tended to ____.

Accepted Answer

Peng and Nisbett (1999) found that American students tended to embrace one solution and reject the other when presented with apparently contradictory propositions. This is consistent with the principles of non-contradiction and excluded middle which are foundational to traditional Western logic.

Question 15

Two of the most notable aspects of post-formal thinking in emerging adulthood are ____.

Accepted Answer

Post-formal thinking in emerging adulthood is characterized by the ability to think more pragmatically and use reflective judgment. This means being able to consider multiple perspectives, deal with uncertainty, and understand that solutions to problems may not be black and white. Hypothetical and deductive reasoning are also important aspects of post-formal thinking, but are not as directly related to pragmatism and reflective judgment as option D. Animism and personal fables are characteristic of adolescent thinking, while egocentrism is resolved in late adolescence. Reality testing is a cognitive ability that develops earlier in adolescence.

Question 16

____ is often seeing situations and issues in polarised terms - an act is either right or wrong, with no in-between; a statement is either true or false, regardless of the nuances or the situation to which it is being applied.

Accepted Answer

The description given in the question points towards dualistic thinking, which is the tendency to see things as black and white, right or wrong, with no gray areas in between. It is characterized by a lack of flexibility in thinking and an inability to consider multiple perspectives or possibilities. Choices B, C, and D do not accurately reflect this description.

Question 17

According to Gisela Labouvie-Vief, adolescents and many young adults are confined to formal operations and do not possess post-formal operational thought because they ____.

Accepted Answer

Labouvie-Vief argues that many young adults are limited to formal operational thought and do not possess post-formal operational thought because they often exaggerate the extent to which logical thinking can be applied to real-life situations. They may struggle to use more complex reasoning strategies to resolve real-life problems and may rely too heavily on formal operational thinking.

Question 18

According to Gisela Labouvie-Vief, cognitive development in emerging adulthood is distinguished from adolescent thinking by ____.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive development in emerging adulthood, as described by Gisela Labouvie-Vief, is marked by a greater recognition and incorporation of practical limitations to logical thinking. This reflects a move towards more pragmatic and realistic thinking, acknowledging the complexities and constraints of real-world situations.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes pragmatism as a component of post-formal operational thought?

Accepted Answer

Pragmatism as a component of post-formal operational thought is an awareness of how social factors and factors specific to a given situation must be taken into account in approaching most of life's problems. It involves a practical approach that considers the context, consequences, and ramifications of actions, decisions, and solutions.

Question 20

Peng and Nisbett (1999) conducted studies comparing Chinese and American university students. They found that Chinese students were more likely than Americans to prefer ____.

Accepted Answer

Chinese students were more likely to prefer dialectical proverbs containing contradictions, reflecting a cultural tendency towards accepting contradictions and seeking a middle way, as opposed to the more linear and contradiction-averse thinking often found in American students.

Quiz 9: Emerging Adulthood