Chapter 18 Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood Michael Hoerger

Dialectical Thought Definition: to simultaneous consider a belief and an opposing belief Thesis: statement of belief  “Drug are bad, mmmkay” Antithesis (an-tith-e-sis): opposing belief  “Drugs are good” Synthesis: an integrated comprehensive truth  “Minor drug use generally does not have negative long term outcomes, but it’s not for me”

Dialectical Thought Examples Thesis: “Depression is genetic” Antithesis: “Depression is not genetic” Synthesis: “Depression is complex” Thesis: “Breastfeeding improves IQ” Antithesis: “A 3 rd variable explains both” Synthesis: “The 3 rd variable problem may explain some of the effect, but breastfeeding may have an impact too”

Times They are A-Changin’ College life… Meaningful life philosophy  $$$ Increasingly female: 40%  55% More diverse across age and ethnicity Lower income, employed part-time, live at home Already have children Decline in liberal arts degrees

Cheating Traditional students, males, Universities 75% make fraudulent excuses: computer, illness, death/family problems, alarm 75% of students can identify plagiarism 50% have cheated on an exam Lower GPA Religiosity Problem of procrastination

Michael Hoerger To cite this textbook: Berger, K. (2005). The developing person through the lifespan. New York: Worth. To cite this lecture: Hoerger, M. (2007, March 26). Developmental Psychology: Early Adulthood Cognitive Development. Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Michigan University.