Microgenesis was discussed with respect to Werner's theory of percept development. An experiment was designed to test the effects of premature percept development. One group of subjects was trained to use a conceptual-analytic schema in solving a finger-maze problem while another group was trained to use a motor-perceptual set. Results indicate that the conceptual analytic group was significantly slower and less accurate than either a control group negotiating the criterion maze for the first time or the motor-perceptual group. It was concluded that cognitive flexibility is weakened by premature conceptualization.
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