Unprecedented growth in our aging population mandates a corresponding increase in the research base. African Americans and elders over the age of 75 years are particularly underrepresented in the social scientific literature. Because wisdom operates as a sort of compensating mechanism to the losses due to biology, it provides an effective framework for the study of optimal aging. The current study, designed to elicit wisdom stories from African American elders, further identified wisdom as an important positive aspect of any new paradigm of aging. Following initial contact, each of four African American elders over the age of 75 years was interviewed on two separate occasions using open-ended questions. Data were analyzed utilizing procedures for hueristic inquiry (Moustakas,1990a). Themes included Acceptance, Growth, and Interaction. Less direct means of transmission predominated, including modeling, mentoring, storytelling, listening, and observation. Specific processes facilitative of wisdom transmission emerged which will inform revisions in the existing paradigms on aging in clinical, research, and policy realms. These include maintenance of a mindset and perspective characterized by the qualities of acceptance, openmindedness, and compassion, a pronounced emphasis on continual growth, the nonjudgmental valuing of interaction with others, and a commitment to conferring wisdom, particularly through mentoring and modeling. In spite of major differences in background, education, and occupation, narrative indicated similar attitudes and experiences regarding the process of transmission among participants. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2005. / April 28, 2005. / Life Satisfaction, Elders, African American, Narrative Gerontology, Wisdom, Aging, Optimal Aging / Includes bibliographical references. / Marsha L. Rehm, Professor Directing Dissertation; Nicholas Mazza, Outside Committee Member; Mary Hicks, Committee Member; Ann K. Mullis, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_180343 |
| Contributors | Samuel, Judith (authoraut), Rehm, Marsha L. (professor directing dissertation), Mazza, Nicholas (outside committee member), Hicks, Mary (committee member), Mullis, Ann K. (committee member), Department of Family and Child Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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