Jan D. Sinnott

In this book Jan D. Sinnott synthesizes her 20 years of research on lifespan cognitive development to describe the growth of complex (or `postformal') thought in adults. She shows specifically how adults improve mentally over a lifetime and learn to think in more complex and wiser ways. Applications of postformal thought are demonstrated in such diverse areas as - family relations - adult education - personal identity - and spirituality. Chapters examine relations between postformal thought and pertinent variables such as age, health, memory, and vocabulary. Other sections deal with issues in humanistic psychology such as - guided imagery - mind - body medicine - and creative intentionality.

Postformal Thought and Its Applications

The Development of Logic in Adulthood

This interdisciplinary handbook is the first to provide an overview of research and theory about formal and informal adult learning. Jan Sinnott and a team of experts from different fields analyze and synthesize the state of the art today--how mature and aging adults learn and what their motivations are. This major reference examines important theories and models, learning in specific life contexts, the influence of aging on learning, and the future of adult lifespan learning. Extensive reference materials have been developed for students, teachers, policymakers, and practitioners to use in the fields of gerontology, psychology, education, and counseling.

Interdisciplinary Handbook of Adult Lifespan Learning

Theory and Research from a Systems Perspective

Sex Roles and Aging

Lawrence Kohlberg

Michael L. Commons

Francis A. Richards

Cheryl Armon

Tina A. Grotzer

In recent years, researchers have begun to focus attention on postformal thought--the development of thought in late adolescence and adulthood--questioning Piaget's early terminus of structural development in adolescence. This volume brings together the works of distinguished authors in the field of postformal-operational cognitive, social, and perceptual development to examine the models and methodology used to investigate postformal thought. The contributors represent the variety of approaches that characterize this body of research, while, at the same time, seeking to unify this diverse literature with a common language. An ideal text for advanced courses in adult development, this volume is also a primary reference for developmental and educational psychologists and students working in the fields of cognitive development, adolescent and adult development, and lifespan development. Divided into four parts, the volume begins by examining both Piagetian and nonstructural models of adult cognitive development, considering them in light of current research developments. Individual papers address models of equilibrium, knowledge, reflective judgment, ego-development, and consciousness. In Part II, the contributors discuss the measurement and comparison of cognitive development in adults, exploring such topics as construct validity and theories of adult development, the structural and developmental relations between formal and postformal capacities, and the relationship between Piagetian and Kohlbergian stages. The third section assesses the research and theory of adult reasoning in the moral domain, while the concluding chapter investigates critical evaluations of postformal research. Numerous tables and figures enhance the discussions.

Volume 2: Models and Methods in the Study of Adolescent and Adult Thought

Adult Development

Robin L. West

Everyday Memory and Aging is a comprehensive handbook which touches virtually every aspect of current everyday memory research and methodology as they relate to aging. This book demonstrates that the results of divergent approaches to the study of everyday memory and aging frequently dovetail, and it widens significantly the scope of investigation and know- ledge in the field.

Current Research and Methodology

Everyday Memory and Aging

Joan S. Rabin

This volume seeks to add a unique perspective on the complex relationship between psychology and politics, focusing on three analytical points of view: 1) psychology, politics, and complex thought, 2) bio/psycho/social factors of masculinity and power, and 3) underlying factors in political behavior. Contributors examine recent political events worldwide through a psychological lens, using interdisciplinary approaches to seek a deeper understanding of contemporary political ideas, psychologies, and behaviors. Finally, the book offers suggestions for surviving and thriving during rapid political change. Among the topics discussed: Biopsychological factors of political beliefs and behaviors Understanding political polarization through a cognitive lens Impact of psychological processes on voter decision making Motivations for believing in conspiracy theories Nonverbal cues in leadership Authoritarian responses to social change The Psychology of Political Behavior in a Time of Change is a timely and insightful volume for students and researchers in psychology, political science, gender studies, business and marketing, and sociology, as well as those working in applied settings: practitioners, government workers, NGOs, corporate organizations.

Jan D. Sinnott

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