The Psychology of Later Life
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Renowned experts in adult development and aging, Manfred Diehl and Hans‑Werner Wahl synthesize decades of psychological research into a comprehensive volume that considers later life in the context of lifespan development, social and physical environmental factors, and historical‑cultural influences. In so doing, they review important research on cognitive functioning, behavioral processes, personality and identity development, and overall well‑being in middle‑ to late‑adulthood.
Diehl and Wahl’s framework helps readers better understand that the development process is influenced by many facets and can take many different trajectories. Through this contextualized perspective, they examine the influence that previous life experiences, beginning in early childhood, can have on the aging process in older adults. This includes social relations, technological developments, societal perspectives on aging, and education.
The authors also examine the challenges and opportunities of aging, using a strengths‑based approach to promote a diverse, nuanced understanding on successful, healthy aging. Chapters also conclude with dialogues from other experts in the field, offering multiple different perspectives on the research.
Introduction
- Adult Development and Aging Embedded in Contexts
- Normal Cognitive Development and Competencies in Everyday Life
- Personality, Self, and Identity in Adulthood and Aging
- Motivation, Emotion, and Well-Being in Later Life
- Subjective Awareness of Aging Processes and Self-Perceptions of Aging
- Risks and Potentials of Adult Development and Aging: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities of Successful Aging
- Potential of Behavioral Interventions in Adult Development and Aging
- Placing Behavioral Aging Research in Context: A Critical Review and Remaining Challenges
References
Index
About the Authors
Manfred Diehl, PhD, is a distinguished professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University (CSU).
He is a member and past president of APA Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging).
Dr. Diehl’s research focuses on successful and healthy aging in adults, including the influence of personality characteristics, the development of self-regulatory behaviors, and the link between adults’ self-awareness of aging and developmental outcomes. He received CSU’s 2011 Scholarly Excellence Award for the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Manfred Diehl lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Hans-Werner Wahl, PhD, is senior professor of psychological aging research at the Institute of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Germany.
His research interests include the role of physical-technological environments in aging, adaptational processes in age-related functional loss, and self-awareness of aging across the lifespan.
Dr. Wahl is co-editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Ageing and a member of the editorial board of The Gerontologist. He is also a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and has received the 2008 Social Gerontology Award (together with Manfred Diehl) and the 2009 M. Powell Lawton Award.
Hans-Werner Wahl lives in Edingen-Neckarhausen, Germany.
- Winner of 2021 Richard Kalish Innovative Publication Book Award from the Behavioral and Social Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America
