Editing Openai/6973e373-2b8c-800d-84b7-d7001cfc6bac (section)

=== CTDST anchor (credibility + why this maps so well) ===

This entire lens is consistent with Critical Thinking Development Stage Theory as presented by Linda Elder with Richard Paul: development is staged, depends on commitment to intellectual self-assessment, and regression is possible—meaning “how someone debates when threatened” is often a more honest measure of their development than how they sound when comfortable. 

For a formal citation commonly used in HSCM-related materials: Elder, L., & Paul, R. (1996). Critical thinking development: A stage theory with implications for instruction. 

==== Final note ====

If you learn nothing else from this post, learn this:

Don’t argue with conclusions. Test repair.
Repair is the difference between dialogue and self-protection theater.

If you want, comment “examples” and I’ll write a follow-up showing what repair looks like in the wild vs what substitution looks like—without naming anyone or turning it into a callout culture thing.