Kramer (1983, 1989) proposed that people progress
through three broad stages: absolutist,
relativist and dialectical.
In early adulthood,
many people are in the absolutist phase: they are capable of addressing many problems,
but they tend to believe that all problems have a correct answer.
For example,
a young person might commence university study believing that it will be a matter of learning facts and procedures,
that the lecturers know everything and will tell you what is right and wrong.