John C. Cavanaugh – författare

This volume examines positive development across adulthood with particular emphasis on postformal thought. The editors acknowledge that researchers have compiled a substantial body of descriptive evidence about the styles of thinking used by adults under certain conditions. The questions that remain are whether these styles reflect qualitative changes; how these styles develop; whether there are necessary precursors; why there is content specificity; what the relationship is to physiological or neurological development; whether adults can deliberately control postformal thought; how postformal thought develops in different cultures; what key developmental experiences, if any, are needed for postformal thought to develop; and what postformal thought means in a practical sense.These questions are addressed by the research and theory discussed in this volume. The contributors reflect a diversity of backgrounds assumptions, disciplines, and methods. Postformal thought and its correlates are described from physiological, psychological, sociological, anthropological, and clinical perspectives.

This three-volume set provides insightful and understandable summaries of the state-of-the-art studies of aging—the most important social demographic issue facing America today.Aging in America will help us plan for the future and meet the needs of what has already become an 11-fold increase in the number of U.S. residents 65 or older. Organized around three broad themes related to aging—psychological issues, mental and physical health, and social issues—with a volume devoted to each, this unique set rallies respected scholars from across disciplines to discuss a phenomenon that will profoundly affect each of us individually and our society as a whole.The volumes cover a wide range of topics, including neuroscience, memory, end-of-life choices, health, care-giving, medication adherence, the benefits of exercise, personal relationships, elder abuse, and other vital issues. The gains of longevity are explored, as are the agonies of loss as we age. As a society, we need to assure that older adults not only survive but thrive. This set helps point the way.