Cognitive Complexity

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Cognitive complexity is our ability to think about the world in a nuanced way, showing complexity vs simplicity of our perceptual skill. Researchers use measures to assess the degree of mental effort required to understand or solve a problem. High-complexity individuals perceive nuances and subtle differences and consider multiple perspectives and the degree of interaction between ideas and concepts. They rely on their experience and knowledge for problem-solving and tend to be more open-minded and flexible. Low-complexity (simplicity) individuals have a simpler, more straightforward approach to thinking, using few constructs with limited relationships to one another. Also see Self-Identity and Self-Complexity

• Research on therapists, who’ve been practicing cognitive complexity for 40 years, shows those with high-complexity have greater consistency in empathy, more varied responses to clients, greater tolerance of ambiguity, and more frequent unbiased clinical judgements.