Having made a pitch in the last post for the problems of psychic
complexity, I will now turn the tables and argue for the healthiness of cognitive
complexity. I mentioned in that note that I was taking liberty with the words
psyche, emotions and mind. Now I will be more specific.
Psychic complexity is an attribute primarily of our
emotional set-up, a messy mélange of over-lapping and often contradictory
sensations and needs, of which we are mainly unconscious. The lack of emotional
order and discipline mean poor outcomes for the person and those with whom she
interacts. Thinking, decision-making and interpersonal interactions, among
other things, are compromised by this condition. Cognitive complexity could
hardly be more different.
“Cognitive complexity is the
psychological characteristic or variable that shows how complex or simple the
frame and perceptual skill of a person are. It is the extent to
which a person differentiates and integrates an event. A person who measures
highly on cognitive complexity tends to observe gradations and subtle
differences while persons with a less complex cognitive structure for the task
does not.” (reference.com)
“Differentiation is the number of
distinctions or separate elements (i.e., factors, variables) into to which an
event is analyzed. Integration refers to the connections or relationships among
those elements.” (faculty.css.edu)
These characteristics are vital for problem solving,
whether in science, government, business, or everyday life. The more separate
elements and nuanced differences a person can see, the more she can bring to a
challenge and the more sophisticated the outcome.
What else can we draw from these quotes? They express an
expansive view of the world (and conflict conversations), rather than a disordered
and restrictive view. Individuals with high cognitive complexity are more open
to new information, and have more cognitive tools at their disposal. They are
more likely to deal well with uncertainty, and may be more willing to actively
search for contrary information. And they can be highly creative in rearranging
the various elements in a complex setting to produce a unique and beneficial
outcome. All of these require flexible and adaptive thinking.
People with low cognitive complexity tend to see the
world in simplistic terms. Lacking subtlety and flexibility, their impoverished
thinking leads to undesirable outcomes. Also, having unrefined views of the
world may lead people to expect things to work out as their simplistic
structure dictates. Happening rarely, such folks are generally unhappy and
often disillusioned, frequently blaming their troubles on others or events.
We must recognize that cognitive complexity is not an
either/or condition. In most cases people have varying degrees of it. Also, a
person can have a healthy level of cognitive complexity in some areas of life
and not in others. I know a lawyer who appears to have high cognitive
complexity at work and very little when he is in conflict with someone outside
of work. This is a classic case of a person who has selective high cognitive
complexity possibly being overcome by his psychic complexity.
As we saw in the last post, when others disagree with us,
our psychic disunity often surfaces, with bad results all around. A person with
high cognitive complexity, seeing the world more expansively, has at least a
chance to make a disagreement productive. Someone with low cognitive complexity
may be unable to do that. He lives in fear of contrary information and lacks a
subtle and nuanced view. Anyone who disagrees with his formulation must be severely
dealt with. Counter-punchers, who see every opposition in child-like, either/or
terms, reflexively and instantly defend their position and attack the other’s.
There is no gray, there is no inquisitiveness, no expansiveness; there is only
the need to prevail---low cognitive complexity.
Political partisans are my poster children for low
(zero?) cognitive complexity, and for aggressive counter punchers. They live in
an artificial world of absolute certainty, often detesting those with different
views. Disagreement entails demolishing, and often demeaning, their opponent. They
would sooner disembowel themselves than accept or search for contrary
information. The only acceptable information confirms their existing views. And
making things even worse is a rock-solid and profoundly intense emotional commitment
to their belief.
Cognitive complexity is obviously beneficial to
individuals and to society. But even if we have some, it can easily disappear
in conflict settings. Naturally, this is deniable since the positive stories we
tell ourselves about ourselves must remain inviolate. But not everyone wants to
remain in this delusional and troubled state.
Becoming a person of high cognitive complexity interpersonally
asks much of us since it involves our often long-conditioned adverse behavior patterns.
Because the latter are often invisible to us, we need others to assist us in
becoming aware. Soliciting and listening to these observations may fill us with
dread. After all, who wants to hear bad news about themselves? But there is no
easy way. The only way to the other side is through, not around. Fearlessness,
perseverance and discipline are vital.
