Separation of Two Adult Populations Identified with Two Levels of Psychological Development

In: Human relations: towards the integration of the social sciences, Band 30, Heft 10, S. 859-868

Abstract

Results are presented of the third experiment in a series designed to test a discontinuity theory of psychological development. Use is made of the phenomenon of loss of skill under conditions of increasing rate of change of perceptual field. The scores provided by a population mixture of university undergraduates and graduates separate clearly into two groups which are identified with levels 4 and 5 of the theory. The series provides a compound indirect test of the theory and also substantiates earlier problem-solving experiments. A secondary analysis of the results provides indications of the proportions of schoolchildren (and university undergraduates) corresponding to the different levels of psychological development. Much wider differences in development are revealed than are suggested from conventional psychological and educational research.