Michael Basseches

Dialectical Schemas and Post-Formal Thought

Michael Basseches (1945–Present) is an American psychologist and researcher known for his pioneering empirical work on dialectical thinking in adulthood. Building on the work of Piaget and others, Basseches explored a form of “post-formal” thought that moves beyond the logical-analytical operations of adolescence. He developed a detailed framework for identifying and measuring dialectical thinking, positing it as a crucial developmental achievement that allows adults to better understand complex, evolving systems and the inherent contradictions of human experience.

Key Concepts and Contributions:

Dialectical Thinking as a Developmental Achievement: Basseches argued that while Piaget’s formal operational stage describes the capacity for abstract, logical, and hypothetical reasoning, many adult problems require a different, more complex mode of thought. Dialectical thinking is that mode, characterized by a dynamic, holistic, and contextual approach to knowledge. It’s the ability to grasp the ever-changing nature of reality and to recognize that truth is often provisional and emerges from the interaction of opposing forces.

24 Dialectical Schemas: Basseches systematically identified 24 distinct “dialectical schemas” or cognitive operations that collectively define dialectical thinking. These schemas represent patterns of thought that reflect a dialectical approach. They fall into categories such as:

Movement-Process-Change: Seeing phenomena as ongoing processes rather than static entities (e.g., “motion-process-change,” “interpenetration of opposites”).
Contradiction-Relationship: Recognizing and working with inherent contradictions and tensions (e.g., “mutuality of parts and whole,” “negation of the negation”).
Context-Relativity: Understanding that knowledge and truth are relative to their specific context and are not absolute (e.g., “contextual relativism,” “open-endedness”).
Holism-System: Perceiving interconnectedness and the systemic nature of phenomena (e.g., “identity-in-relation,” “systematicity”).

These schemas are not necessarily conscious strategies but rather underlying ways of structuring and interpreting reality.

Empirical Research on Adult Thought: Basseches’s work provided empirical evidence that dialectical thinking is indeed a distinct and developmentally advanced form of cognition that can be observed in adults. He developed methods to assess the presence and frequency of these dialectical schemas in individuals’ reasoning about complex issues, demonstrating that this mode of thought often develops in higher education and through engagement with complex professional or personal challenges.

Significance for Adult Development:

Basseches’s work holds immense significance for understanding adult development, particularly in cognitive processes, for several reasons:

Defining Post-Formal Thought: He provided one of the clearest and most empirically grounded conceptualizations of “post-formal thought,” extending cognitive developmental theory beyond Piaget’s stages into the complexities of adult reasoning.
Navigating Ambiguity and Paradox: His model explains how adults develop the capacity to effectively deal with ambiguity, paradox, and the inherent contradictions of life—skills crucial for mature decision-making in personal, professional, and societal contexts.
Understanding Complex Problem Solving: Dialectical thinking is directly linked to an adult’s ability to tackle ill-structured problems, where there are no clear-cut solutions and understanding requires integrating multiple, often conflicting, perspectives.
Lifelong Cognitive Growth: Basseches’s research underscores that cognitive development does not cease in adolescence but continues to evolve into qualitatively more complex forms throughout the adult lifespan, especially in response to challenging experiences.

In summary, Michael Basseches’s pioneering work on dialectical schemas provided a crucial empirical and theoretical framework for post-formal thought in adulthood. He illuminated how adults develop the capacity to perceive and integrate contradiction, change, and context in their reasoning, significantly advancing our understanding of advanced cognitive development and how individuals navigate the inherent complexities of their evolving lives.