PMID: 6109462Jun 1, 1980Paper

Life-span-developmental psychology and gerontology (author's transl)

Aktuelle Gerontologie
U Lehr

Abstract

The recognition that aging processes are considerably influenced by the individuals' life-course from birth on can be traced to antiquity. One of the first attempts of scientific study of the entire life-course was started by Charlotte Bühler (1933). Already in 1951, Thomae emphasized the necessary extension of Developmental Psychology from its restriction to childhood into covering the entire life-span, and initiated numerous empirical studies working with the biographical method. Thus, the "life-span-orientation" of Developmental Psychology, recently ascribed to P.B. Baltes, is rather a rediscovered conceptualization than a genuine 'new' idea. Following this evaluation of the historical roots and origins of "life-span-developmental-psychology", a review of empirical biographical studies is presented, which emphasize a conceptualization of behavior in older age at the intersection of past experience, current situation, and future time perspective of the individual. As an example it is discussed how the mother experiences and reacts to her (last) child's leaving home ("empty-nest-reaction"). In addition, "sociogendtic risk-factors" (Eitner) are discussed, as well as the biographical interdependency of mental and physical activi...Continue Reading

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