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A new age of old age? : gerotranscendence and the re-enchantment of aging

Jönson, Håkan LU and Magnusson, Jan Arne (2001) In Journal of Aging Studies 15(4). p.317-331
Abstract
Gerotranscendence theory is reviewed regarding its content, development, diffusion, impact, empirical results, and ontology. Gerotranscendence theory describes a ''natural'' alteration of consciousness in old age leading to ''wisdom'' and a qualitative break with a mid-life rational and materialist world-view. According to the theory, gerotranscendence is obstructed by a lack of alternative values and roles in old age in Western societies. Theoretically and in clinical practice, gerotranscendence theory has been linked to psychoanalysis. It is concluded that gerotranscendence theory is empirically weak, has parallels in the New Age movement as well as in romantic Orientalism, and can be understood as an attempt to re-enchant aging.
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Disengagement, Gerontology, Gerotranscendence, Theory, Wisdom
in
Journal of Aging Studies
volume
15
issue
4
pages
317 - 331
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:0035605782
ISSN
0890-4065
DOI
10.1016/S0890-4065(01)00026-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c0f4f519-7860-4236-80da-1403df97f3d5 (old id 149501)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:18:05
date last changed
2022-03-13 08:06:52
@article{c0f4f519-7860-4236-80da-1403df97f3d5,
  abstract     = {{Gerotranscendence theory is reviewed regarding its content, development, diffusion, impact, empirical results, and ontology. Gerotranscendence theory describes a ''natural'' alteration of consciousness in old age leading to ''wisdom'' and a qualitative break with a mid-life rational and materialist world-view. According to the theory, gerotranscendence is obstructed by a lack of alternative values and roles in old age in Western societies. Theoretically and in clinical practice, gerotranscendence theory has been linked to psychoanalysis. It is concluded that gerotranscendence theory is empirically weak, has parallels in the New Age movement as well as in romantic Orientalism, and can be understood as an attempt to re-enchant aging.}},
  author       = {{Jönson, Håkan and Magnusson, Jan Arne}},
  issn         = {{0890-4065}},
  keywords     = {{Disengagement; Gerontology; Gerotranscendence; Theory; Wisdom}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{317--331}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Aging Studies}},
  title        = {{A new age of old age? : gerotranscendence and the re-enchantment of aging}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0890-4065(01)00026-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0890-4065(01)00026-3}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}