The Perry Scheme

Position 1-2 Dualisms

· Use of discrete, concrete and absolute categories to understand people, knowledge and values

· See instructor as the authority that should "tell me what I need to know"

· Low tolerance for ambiguity

· All problems have answers

Positions 3-4 Multiplicity

· Acknowledge that there are perspectives to a given problem or topic

· There can be more than one right answer

Positions 5-6 Relativism

· Recognizes that knowledge is contextual and relative

· Can evaluate their own ideas and others

· Authorities no longer defied, but valued for their expertise

Positions 7-9 Commitment in Relativism

· Realize the need to endorse their own choices from the multitude of truths that exist in a relative world

· Recognize of diverse personal themes in one’s life—much of this may occur after college (Delworth, 1987)

The above website gives an excellent understanding of Perry’s theory of Intellectual and Ethical Development

http://www.indiana.edu/~l506/theoryframe/506Model.htm

Also a good website for understanding Perry’ work