The Role of Cognitive Development in Mezirow’s Transformational Learning Theory

Abstract

The link between development and learning is explicit in Mezirow’s theory of transformational learning. Indeed, numerous studies have documented that growth and development are outcomes of transformational learning. What has not been questioned, and what is argued in this Forum article, is that it appears one must already be at a mature level of cognitive functioning to engage in the transformational learning process. For transformational learning to occur, one must be able to critically reflect and engage in rational discourse; both of these activities are characteristic of higher levels of cognitive functioning.