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Adult development and aging in historical context
Denis Gerstorf1, Gizem Hülür2, Johanna Drewelies1
1Department of Psychology, Humboldt University Berlin.
The American Psychologist
|May 8, 2020
Summary
Sociocultural changes have made aging appear younger over the past century, impacting older adults
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Sociology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Human development is influenced by sociocultural contexts and historical shifts.
- Sociocultural changes, like increased early education, have altered developmental timelines.
- Older adults' experiences and perceptions are shaped by these historical changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how history-graded changes impact older adults' objective performance and subjective evaluations.
- To explore presumed causes driving historical changes in development.
- To identify key areas for future research in adult development and aging.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical changes influencing older adults' functioning.
- Analysis of objective performance and subjective evaluations in older populations.
- Identification of mechanisms driving history-graded changes.
Main Results:
- Old age is perceived as "younger" in countries like the US and Germany, based on behavioral measures and self-perception.
- Historical changes have significantly reshaped normative developmental sequences.
- The positive trends observed in older adults over the last century may not continue.
Conclusions:
- Future research should focus on adult development trajectories, the role of adult experiences, and the structure of very old age.
- Understanding history-graded changes is crucial for projecting and optimizing future adult development.
- The mechanisms driving these changes require further investigation and methodological innovation.
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