This book presents the results of an extensive study of old age and aging, ranging from 70 to 100 years, that was carried out by psychologists, sociologists, physicians, and scientists from a variety of other disciplines. A random sample of more than 500 senior residents of the former West Berlin were examined in depth. Topics investigated include intellectual abilities, self and personality, social relationships, physical health, medical treatment and care, mental disorders such as depression and dementia, socioeconomic conditions, everyday competence, subjective well-being, and gender...

For a long time, research on developmental issues in the biological and social sciences has been primarily concerned with the early stages of the lifespan, such as infancy and adolescence. More and more researchers have recently turned their attention to the problems of development and aging in the later periods of life. This volume, based on papers presented by the European Network on Longitudinal Studies on Individual Development, deals with success in the aging process. From a medical or public health viewpoint, successful aging consists of optimizing life expectancy while at the same time...

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 behavior and human development. Experts from a variety of fields address such issues as biological aspects of...

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 behavior and human development. Experts from a variety of fields address such issues as biological aspects of...

This book focuses on the developmental analysis of brain-culture-environment dynamics 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, as each is influenced by and modifies the other. To capture the ubiquitous reach and significance of the mutually dependent and co-productive brain-culture system, the metaphor of biocultural co-constructivism is invoked. Distinguished researchers from cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and developmental...

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.