Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book looks at the various aspects and research domains from multiple perspectives in an attempt to provide an integrative view on the complex phenomena involved. It seeks and offers an integrative view on the development of adult thinking and learning processes. The book also looks at the various aspects and research domains from multiple perspectives in an attempt to provide an integrative view on the complex phenomena involved. It presents the views of modern developmental psychology on how thinking develops in adulthood and how it is linked to wisdom research. The book explains Piaget’s highly significant theory of developmental stages of logical thinking. It aims to integrate social psychology with research on the development of knowledge conceptions. Human thinking is seen from two different perspectives: as personal epistemologies and as social representations.