Transformational Learning - Food for Thought

Transformational learning changes or modifies an individual’s embedded perspectives, assumptions and prejudices.  Individuals traverse a process of experience, inner reflection and questioning of ideals and positive development throughout the learning process.

Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner ( 2006) provide an example of transformational learning involving a professional lawyer with material ambitions. This lawyer is diagnosed with cancer. After the diagnoses, i.e. the experience, she discusses her situation with her family and deeply considers her needs of material versus relationships, i.e. critical reflection. She ultimately reforms her priorities and experiences inner change in her desires, i.e. development.

She has become transformed as an individual. This change is not a surface change but a sea change in her thoughts, priorities and actions. Before this learning experience, her major driving force was material gain and superficial relationships.

A strong emotional experience instigates the learning process. In this case, an individual does not seek change or learning. It is imposed on her by circumstances.  It is the process through which the individual travels which initiates and solidifies these changes.  

Does this hold true for other individuals? Of course not; everyone is different.

Other individuals may take the news about cancer and break down and give up. This is a professional and assumed successful lawyer; she is used to fighting for what she wants.

Would this example hold true for all professional lawyers? I believe there would be those who would decide to get all they can out of life while they can. Others may focus on gaining as much wealth as possible and passing it down to other generations.

My point is – and this criticism appeared in or text – that the theories on transformational learning focus on specific individual contexts. The theories are based on critical analysis and do not take into account such events as emotional enlightenment.

I understand transformational learning as a concept and appreciate its power. There are criticisms which give me pause. The outcome of transformational learning produces a change in "what" we know and not how "much" we know. This is a very reasonable statement and has teeth. However, the surrounding factors which determine or lead specifically to this are more varied than addressed by Transformational Learning.