Misunderstanding adult stage theory

New writing: “Natural misunderstandings of adult stage theory”

Developmental stage theory describes qualitative shifts in ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that occur in some adults. These transitions unlock unusual capabilities which have played essential roles in human progress historically, and seem likely to be critical for our future.

I may be partly responsible for the theory’s growing popularity. However, if I’d known that “Developing ethical, social, and cognitive competence” (2015) would become influential, I would have written more carefully.

No one else has done a great job of explaining it either. Some confusions are common consequences.

“Natural misunderstandings of adult stage theory” (new today) describes a dozen of them. It explains why each issue matters, and offers a more accurate understanding.

• Stages are ways of being, not subject matters

• Stage theory is about systematicity

• You can’t skip stage 3

• Stage 4 is about emotions and relationships too

• Stage progression is not the whole of adult development

• Stage transition is not like learning new skills

• Romantic postrationalism is not stage 5

• Integrating stages 3 and 4 is not stage 5

• You can’t skip stage 4

• Stage 5 is not about systems

• Stage progression doesn’t make you a superior person

• Stage progression is not morally required

Upcoming, maybe

I’ve been thinking about adult stage theory more than usual. The new essay ends with an “Upcoming, maybe” section that lists another five pieces I may write about it.

I’m not supposed to be working on this at all. I’m supposed to be doing a final revision of Better without AI, and producing paperback and Kindle versions of it. I was about to do that mid-February, but got sick, and wasn’t able to work much for the next three months. Now I’ve forgotten what the AI book is about, and revising it seems like a big, unfun job. So I enjoyed writing about stage theory instead!