Reflective Judgment Model

The Reflective Judgment Model describes how people develop their ability to understand complex, uncertain issues over time. It suggests that as individuals gain experience and critical thinking skills, they move through stages—initially trusting simpler, authoritative answers, then recognizing that some questions are complex and require evidence and reasoning. Eventually, they learn to evaluate multiple perspectives and uncertainties, developing more nuanced and sophisticated judgments. This model helps explain how our thinking about complex problems evolves, encouraging critical reflection and deeper understanding rather than reliance on definitive answers.