Wisdom: A positive aspect of aging

Ambrosius, M. (2001). Wisdom: A positive aspect of aging. (Doctoral dissertation, Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2001). UMI no. 3025524

Wisdom is a highly complex and elusive subject that has been largely neglected in the field of psychology, but recently the study of wisdom has been gaining the attention of a growing number of psychologists due to paradigm changes within the field. Living in a highly technological and industrialized society, we are asking more questions about human qualities, human values, and human potentials. This is certainly of philosophical interest, but more importantly, we are looking into practical issues: how do we want to age, how can our aging be a positive experience, and how can wisdom be achieved. Thus, this study explores these questions: What is the role of wisdom in attaining well being in human life? How can wisdom be attained? This study approaches these questions theoretically, using a hermeneutic and heuristic method. Historical, philosophical, theological, and mythological changes regarding our attitudes toward wisdom are reviewed to acquire a general view of wisdom. Recent studies on psychological aspects of wisdom are also examined to gain insight into how wisdom is interpreted by contemporary culture. In order to gain an understanding of how wisdom may develop in a person, I have described my own experience involving midlife crisis and the grief process. I have also interviewed five persons who appear to be actively engaged in attaining wisdom and gained new insights through the descriptions of their life experiences. In addition, I have looked into the involvement of suffering, will, volition, and Eastern and Western spirituality in relationship to the development of wisdom. It is my conclusion that the development of wisdom requires the combination of suffering/grief work, will, numinous or mystical experience, and discovery and integration of different layers of our selves, including our body, mind, soul, and spirit. Among various ways of achieving this end, working through of our midlife crisis, grief processes, and integration processes with the assistance of an effective psychotherapist are discussed as a possible path leading to the attainment of wisdom.