Relationship between Cognitive Differentiation and Level of Abstraction

Abstract

The relationship between cognitive differentiation and the level of abstraction of constructs employed to construe social issues was examined. It was thought that abstract constructs would be associated with greater versatility in construing events than would concrete constructs. It was hypothesized, therefore, that individuals demonstrating extensive differentiation in their grids would generate more abstract constructs for construing social issues than those demonstrating less differentiation. The hypothesis was confirmed and the implications for the refinement of current assessment procedures in this area were discussed.