The approximate ages and educational levels at which complexity levels 0 through 12 generally become dominant are shown below.

Level	Lectical/skill level name	Age	Education
12	single principles	26+ yrs	Ph.D.+
11	abstract systems	22+ yrs	15-16
10	abstract mappings	14-15 yrs	8-9
9	single abstractions	10-11 yrs	4-5
8	representational systems	7-8 yrs	1-2
7	representational mappings	4-5 yrs	0-K
6	single representations	21 mos	n/a
5	sensorimotor systems	15 mos	n/a
4	sensorimotor mappings	10 mos	n/a
3	single sensorimotor actions	6 mos	n/a
2	reflexive systems	3 mos	n/a
1	reflexive mappings	6 wks	n/a
0	reflexive actions	Birth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In texts, hierarchical complexity is reflected in two aspects of performance, the hierarchical order of abstraction of concepts and the logical organization of arguments. Hierarchical Complexity Theory predicts that some increases in hierarchical complexity will take the form of increasing hierarchical order of abstraction. This is because new concepts are formed at each complexity order as the operations of the previous complexity order are "summarized" into single constructs (Fischer, 1980). Burtis (1982) and Halford (1999) suggest that this summarizing or "chunking" makes more complex thought possible by reducing the number of elements that must be simultaneously coordinated, freeing up processing space and making it possible to produce an argument or conceptualization at a higher complexity order. For example, the concept of honor, which appears for the first time at the abstract mappings level, "summarizes" an argument coordinating concepts of reputation, trustworthiness, and kindness constructed at the single abstractions level. Similarly, the concept of personal integrity, which appears for the first time at the abstract systems level, summarizes an argument coordinating concepts of honor, personal responsibility, and personal values constructed at the abstract mappings level.

The figure below illustrates hierarchical integration.

(Complete references for the articles cited in this panel can be found under the references tab.)

Fischer defines 5 tiers, each of which is associated with a primary order of abstraction. These are reflexive actions, sensorimotor actions, representations, abstractions, and principles. Within each tier there are 3 complexity levels. This means there are 13 hierarchical orders of abstraction between single reflexive actions and single principles.

Tiers are associated with complexity levels as follows:

Lectical™ Level	Order of abstraction	Logical structure
Single principles	1st order principles	definitional
Abstract systems	3rd order abstractions	multivariate
Abstract mappings	2nd order abstractions	linear
Single abstractions	1st order abstractions	definitional
Representational systems	3rd order representations	multivariate
Representational mappings	2nd order representations	linear
Single representations	1st order representations	definitional
Sensorimotor systems	3rd order schemes	multivariate
Sensorimotor mappings	2nd order schemes	linear
Single sensorimotor actions	1st order schemes	definitional
Reflexive systems	3rd order actions	multivariate
Reflexive mappings	2nd order actions	linear
Single reflexive actions	1st order actions	definitional