[Emotionality, age and aging--research perspectives, methodological approaches and empirical results]

The topic of emotionality can be regarded as a frame of reference for different perspectives in psycho-gerontological research. In the first chapter five facets of the meaning of emotionality are distinguished: emotionality as a trait, emotionality as an attribute describing actual subjective experiences, emotionality as an attribute describing coping with (stressful) experiences and life events or as a consequence of coping activity, emotionality as a result of self-regulating processes and as an attribute describing feelings of subjective well-being in old age. In a further step methodological approaches for these different facets of meaning are described. In the third chapter empirical results of three research questions are reviewed: How do people perceive old age and how do they perceive the process of aging? Do well developed or regressive coping techniques become more important in old age? Which dimensions of personality are the best predictors of life satisfaction and perceptions of the process of aging? Results of our own research on two specific aspects of emotionality in old age are described in detail in the last part of this contribution: How do sensations of pain and limits of independent living in old age influence life satisfaction and perceptions of the process of aging? How do Jewish extermination camp survivors cope with the increasing reminiscence of holocaust-traumatization?