Hierarchy Wisdom...Data LO3709

David Patrick Ryan (david@presence.lglobal.com)
Wed, 15 Nov 1995 01:05:24 +0000 (GMT)

Replying to LO3652 --

On the issue of wisdom:

Staudinger, U., Smith, J & Baltes, P. (1992). Wisdom-related knowledge in
life review task: Age differences and the role of professional
specialization. Psychology and Aging, 7, 271-281.

In this article the research on age and wisdom is reviewed. Then a a
developmental model is proposed to account for the loose relationship
between these two variables and is tested in a design which compares
several occupational groups. The results are likely to be an amusement
only to psychologists. In the meantime, however, a definiton of wisdom is
proposed which is about the best in this context.

In this definition the wise person has the following qualities:
A fund of general knowledge
Procedural knowledge
An understanding of the relativity of values
An understanding that meaning is contextual
Acceptance of change

--
David Patrick Ryan
Consulting Psychologist
Organizational Development and Aging
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
Toronto, Canada

Tel (416) 480-6100 ext 2379 Fax: (416) 480-6890 email: david@lglobal.com