William G. Perry: Forms of Intellectual and Ethical Development in the College Years
Perry conducts research on college age students and sets forth their intellectual and ethical development through nine positions. Position One is designated as Basic Duality. At this stage, the student places knowledge into two categories: the “in-group” and the “outgroup” (Diessner, 2008). According to Perry, position one has the following attributes: Within the in group are things familiar: truths that concern obedience. The student develops knowledge through committing items to memory and obeying Authority. The out group consists of things unknown or alien to the student. This set of knowledge is considered illegitimate and wrong. The student sees no ...