This chapter has explored several types of adult thinking, including formal and
ID: 3488424 • Letter: T
Question
This chapter has explored several types of adult thinking, including formal and postformal thought, dialectical thinking, and moral reasoning. Test your understanding of these ways of thinking by writing answers to the following questions. 1. Many different kinds of problems arise in daily life. Based on your own experiences, or those of a typical college student, give an example of a problem that is likely to benefit from formal operational thinking. Then explain why a logical answer to this problem is most appropriateExplanation / Answer
Formal operational thinking is one of the stages of cognitive development as described by Jean Piaget. This stage begins at the age of 12 years and is marked by the ability to understand abstract concepts and use logical as well deductive thinking. In this stage the child is able to think about objects and situations even if they are not actually present(hypothetical thinking).
Many of the day to day life problems are brought to a place of solution by use of formal operational thinking. One typical example in that of a college students life would be while solving case studies. In case studies the actual person isn't present but one has to imagine the situation. Thus hypothetical thinking comes into picture here. To reason out a solution one has to apply various theories that are largely abstract concepts to the case study. Here abstract thinking comes into play. To arrive at a conclusion logical thinking is used.
A logical answer to this problem is the most appropriate this makes the answer believable, rational, related and one in touch with facts.