A new age of old age? : gerotranscendence and the re-enchantment of aging
(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.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/149501
- author
- Jönson, Håkan LU and Magnusson, Jan Arne
- organization
- publishing date
- 2001
- 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}}, }