Psychology

Late adulthood is a period n human lifespan which begins approximately at the age of 60 and lasts until death. At this stage, both decline and development take place and moreover, voluntary and controlled development is initiated in order to compensate for the loss of certain functions. The main physical change which occurs in brain at this age is the slowdown of information processing and decline of memory function. At the same time, according to Louw, a new type thinking evolves in this age, which is called post-operational or transcendental thinking. In particular, although elders are less likely to think critically, the application of transcendental operations implies that individuals reflect on the knowledge they have gained through their life experiences and on what they have produced.   They can create new, or suggest better rules on which to base decisions and judgments (Louw, 1998, p.605). This new mode of thinking is associated with wisdom seniors acquire. Wisdom includes the knowledge of life course, its goals and difficulties, understanding of the meaning of life, excellent knowledge of social dynamics and social relationships, knowledge of human nature and ability to give advice concerning the important yet still unclear (to the younger people) issues (Louw, 1998, p.606). From Eriksons perspective, this development greatly depends upon the success the person makes in this period, categorized as the crisis of ego-integrity v. despair. At this age, people tend to review their life and when the results of the analysis are satisfactory, then they gain peculiar inner peace, or experience the sense of ego-integrity (Louw, 1998, p.611).

Due to the fact that at this age the person is still productive in the cognitive dimension, I can plan my own career for a longer period of time, not merely until the formal retirement.  After 60 I and my colleagues will still be capable of doing scientific inquiries, developing new models and approaches in psychology and teaching students, because in late adulthood it is highly important to transmit the knowledge accumulated to the younger generation. In addition, I believe it would be useful to create learning programs for elders in colleges, universities or simply in community clubs. As a psychologist, I will be able to provide counseling services to older adults in order to help them manage their cognitive development and canalize their wisdom into the productive direction.