Paul B. Baltes - Böcker

The present and future of our society are shaped by an ever-increasing proportion of old and very old people. The Berlin Aging Study is one of the largest interdisciplinary efforts to explore old age and aging. Unique aspects of the Berlin Aging Study are the spectrum of scientific disciplines involved, the range of discipline-specific and interdisciplinary research topics, the focus on very old age (70 to over 100 years), and the empirical reference to a representative heterogenous urban population. The study's first cross-sectional findings on intellectual abilities, self and personality, social relationships, physical health, functional capacity, medical treatment, mental disorders such as depression and dementia, socioeconomic conditions, activities, everyday competence, subjective well-being, and gender differences are reported in depth in this book. The study was carried out in the context of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences study group on 'Aging and Social Development'. The authors primarily conduct their research at the Berlin Max Planck Institute for Human Development, the Free University of Berlin, and the Humboldt University, Berlin.

The book focuses on the developmental analysis of the brain-culture-environment dynamic and argues that this dynamic is interactive and reciprocal. Brain and culture co-determine each other. As a whole, this book refutes any unidirectional conception of the brain-culture dynamic. Each is influenced by and modifies the other. To capture the ubiquitous reach and significance of the mutually dependent brain-culture system, the metaphor of biocultural co-constructivism is invoked. Distinguished researchers from cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology and developmental psychology review the evidence in their respective fields. A special focus of the book is its coverage of the entire human lifespan from infancy to old age.

More and more people live into old age. This demographic revolution underscores the fact that old age is the last uncharted and unattended phase of the life cycle. We know that old age is the last uncharted and unattended phase of the life cycle. We know very little about the strengths and weaknesses of old age or how to achieve a good balance between gains and losses, a meaningful conclusion to life. The fourth volume in a series sponsored by the European Science Foundation Network on Longitudinal Studies on Individual Development, Successful Aging presents in its first section general overviews on successful aging from psychological, sociological, and medical perspectives. The volume's second part focuses on selected areas of human functioning, such as intelligence, memory, athletics, life satisfaction, personal control, coping with illness and loss, widowhood, and mental health. The authors of the various chapters share in the view that aging is not identical with fate, but that individuals play a major role in designing their own process of aging.

Various theoretical models in psychology have emphasized the social foundation of the mind and the role that social interactions play in human development. Interactive minds emphasizes social transaction and communication between minds without implying particular mechanisms and outcomes. For instance, not all products of interacting minds are positive. Interactive Minds also takes a life-span perspective, which is especially suited for understanding interactive dynamics of behaviour and human development. Experts from a variety of fields address such issues as biological aspects of cooperation, the role of social interaction in learning, the conceptualization of linguistic knowledge, and peer problem solving. In a concluding Epilogue, implications are presented for various fields, including education, developmental and cognitive psychology, and cultural anthropology.

Various theoretical models in psychology have emphasized the social foundation of the mind and the role that social interactions play in human development. Interactive minds emphasizes social transaction and communication between minds without implying particular mechanisms and outcomes. For instance, not all products of interacting minds are positive. Interactive Minds also takes a life-span perspective, which is especially suited for understanding interactive dynamics of behaviour and human development. Experts from a variety of fields address such issues as biological aspects of cooperation, the role of social interaction in learning, the conceptualization of linguistic knowledge, and peer problem solving. In a concluding Epilogue, implications are presented for various fields, including education, developmental and cognitive psychology, and cultural anthropology.

The book focuses on the developmental analysis of the brain-culture-environment dynamic and argues that this dynamic is interactive and reciprocal. Brain and culture co-determine each other. As a whole, this book refutes any unidirectional conception of the brain-culture dynamic. Each is influenced by and modifies the other. To capture the ubiquitous reach and significance of the mutually dependent brain-culture system, the metaphor of biocultural co-constructivism is invoked. Distinguished researchers from cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology and developmental psychology review the evidence in their respective fields. A special focus of the book is its coverage of the entire human lifespan from infancy to old age.

What are the changes we see over the life-span? How can we explain them? And how do we account for individual differences? This volume continues to examine these questions and to report advances in empirical research within life-span development increasing its interdisciplinary nature. The relationships between individual development, social context, and historical change are salient issues discussed in this volume, as are nonnormative and atypical events contributing to life-span change.

This serial publication continues to review life-span research and theory in the behavioral and social sciences, particularly work done by psychologists and sociologists conducting programmatic research on current problems and refining theoretical positions. Each volume introduces excellent peer-reviewed empirical research into the field of life-span development while presenting interdisciplinary viewpoints on the topic. Often challenging accepted theories, this series is of great interest to developmental, personality, and social psychologists.

What are the changes we see over the life-span? How can we explain them? And how do we account for individual differences? This volume continues to examine these questions and to report advances in empirical research within life-span development increasing its interdisciplinary nature. The relationships between individual development, social context, and historical change are salient issues discussed in this volume, as are nonnormative and atypical events contributing to life-span change.

This serial publication continues to review life-span research and theory in the behavioral and social sciences, particularly work done by psychologists and sociologists conducting programmatic research on current problems and refining theoretical positions. Each volume introduces excellent peer-reviewed empirical research into the field of life-span development while presenting interdisciplinary viewpoints on the topic. Often challenging accepted theories, this series is of great interest to developmental, personality, and social psychologists.

Originally published in 1986, the central topic of this book is the analysis and application of control-related beliefs and behaviours for theory and practice in the psychology of aging. The volume was written for two specific interrelated purposes aimed at cross-fertilization between the psychology of control and the field of gerontology. The first purpose was to summarise available research and theory on the psychology of control for researchers and professionals interested in gerontology at the time. The second was to enrich the field of the psychology of control.

Originally published in 1986, the central topic of this book is the analysis and application of control-related beliefs and behaviours for theory and practice in the psychology of aging. The volume was written for two specific interrelated purposes aimed at cross-fertilization between the psychology of control and the field of gerontology. The first purpose was to summarise available research and theory on the psychology of control for researchers and professionals interested in gerontology at the time. The second was to enrich the field of the psychology of control.