Three types of lay theories about the social world form a developmental sequence. Earlier developing theories are reorganized at the next level into a more inclusive, encompassing view of the world in order to make better predictions. The absolute thinker sees the world as fixed and unchanging, reasons with absolute rules, and has a narrow world view. Relativistic reasoning involves the awareness that everything is relative, a point of view; knowledge is subjective; and contradiction is inherent in reality. The problem with this world view lies in the inability to make decisions and have relationships. Typically, not before middle age, the individual develops an integrated world view that operates according to dialectical, or systems, principles. Contradiction and change are basic features, each event brings about its opposite, and reciprocity is a basic assumption. Integrated thinking is believed to characterize highly mature thought that is very adaptive because it attempts to go beyond the self, take other perspectives into consideration, and find cooperative solutions. An implication for the education of adults, especially middle-aged and older adults, is that retraining adults in the social sciences or developing think tanks with older adults would be worthwhile in dealing with complex social issues. (YLB)