The Malleability of Intellectual Styles

Intellectual styles are individuals' preferred ways of using the cognitive abilities that they possess. The extent to which one can change his or her intellectual style is a question of interest to both researchers and the general public. This book presents the first comprehensive and systematic review of existing research on the malleability of intellectual styles. By critically analyzing research findings derived from both cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations performed over the past seven decades, Li-fang Zhang demonstrates that intellectual styles can be modified through both socialization and purposeful training. Professor Zhang elucidates the heuristic value of these findings for the development of adaptive intellectual styles in both academic and nonacademic settings. She proposes further avenues of research that might advance scholarly understanding of the nature and the potential for modifying intellectual styles.