This volume is the second of Erikson's experiments with a form which he calls "psycho-history," in which he searches the accounts of a prominent individual's life for certain events during a particular stage in the life cycle. The events sought are those which clarify the identity crisis or crises through which the individual came to…

It is argued that external validity across situations and life stages cannot be obtained for any single measure of intellectual ability. Presented at 84th Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, 1976. (Author/PD)

Interviews with 60 women aged 40-55 suggest no significant associations between a woman's menstrual status and her affective state. However, subjects strongly desired information about menopause and bodily changes. They protected themselves from exposure to the social rejection often experienced by older women but did not regret cessation of…

Views development of social cognition in adulthood as multidimensional and domain-based. Asserts that social cognitive understanding represents development of interpersonal and intrapersonal domains of knowledge and that social cognitive skills of adulthood cannot be based solely on emergent formal operational abilities or logical-mathematical…

Considers relationships of dialectical thinking to formal operational thought; general conceptions of cognitive structure to understanding thinking across specific domains; motivational and cognitive competence factors in adult reasoning; and contextualistic and dialectical conceptions of social intelligence. Outlines structural-developmental…

Makes three points to address central issues in synthesis of cognitive, social, and emotional domains. Recommends thinking in stage terms as well as in contextual terms, clarifying levels in which questions are posed, and operating in a systems theory framework to make sense of social cognitive behavior. Suggests that individuals co-create social…

Introduces five papers by presenting a rationale for examining personality and social factors in relation to intellectual aging. Argues that identification of links between personality, social, and cognitive factors may be useful for explaining and predicting variations in the course of intellectual aging. Recommends collaboration among…

As important as teaching processes are in adult learning, it may be even more important to help adults find connections between discipline content and the issues they experience personally as they move through the life cycle. (Author/MSE)

The Death Attitude Profile was developed and four orthogonal factors were identified: Fear of Death/Dying, Approach-Oriented Death Acceptance, Escape-Oriented Death Acceptance, and Neutral Death Acceptance. An elderly sample (N=50) showed less fear of death and more acceptance (all three kinds of acceptance) than did middle aged (N=50) and young…

By using videotape to make information exchange a cooperative activity, villagers become agents of solutions. The power of videotape as a force for human development rests with its capacity to extend people's responsibility over their lives by giving them access to experiences of others like themselves. (JOW)

Examined the relationship between early adult life goals and feelings of success and satisfaction in aging for 144 gifted adults. Results showed significant sex differences with men reporting greater goal attainment. Women with occupational goals at age 30 reported lower feelings of goal attainment at age 70. (JAC)

Author decries music education aimed only at producing professional performers, noting the pleasure many adults have in playing an instrument or singing simply as an avocation. He suggests revising music education to enable the non-professional to continue in music as hobby more easily. (PD)

Study was first presented at the annual invitational address to Division 20, Maturity and Old Age, at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, August 30, 1968. (MS)

Discusses misinformation that women have about the experience of menopause, the midlife acquisition of opposite sex characteristics, and the midlife shift from a focus on significant others to a focus on more personal needs. Suggests potential educational programs for women on midlife topics. (SK)