Consequences of Retreating from Cognitive Development

Perry warns that persons who are overwhelmed by the challenges of cognitive development may retreat to a previous stage of development. Those who do so do not simply operate at that previous stage, but they may actively resist venturing forth, criticism others who do so, or attempt to prevent others from developing in the direction that was so threatening to them. Some of the common symptoms of this regression include:
 
• Anxiety, apprehension & defensiveness
• Complaints, resentment, cynicism
• Righteous intolerance of others who are different
• Absolutism-- has all the answers
• Passive resistance to authority, but no cause
• Dogmatic rebel-- identify with any cause (without judgement) against authority
• Loose tolerance of others so long as it serves a purpose or does not upset their own structures
• Carry out assignments with blind obedience
• Playing an intellectual game without invested values or commitments
• Avoidance of intellectual exercise

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