GERO320 POST RESPONSE 1

Week 3: Ashley Wilson 

Ashley Wilson posted Nov 5, 2023 20:57

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The interconnections between wisdom, personality, resilience, and well-being are incredibly fascinating and relevant to our lives. These elements are intertwined, playing significant roles in shaping who we are and how we navigate the challenges of life. German psychologists Paul Baltes and Ursula Staudinger define wisdom as “The expertise involving deep insight and sound judgment about the essence of the human condition and the ways and means of planning, managing, and understanding a good life” (Ananthasamy, 2016). Wisdom is often considered the culmination of knowledge, experience, and good judgment. However, it is not just about being smart; it’s about applying that intelligence in a way that benefits not only ourselves but also others. Ananthasamy (2020) asserts, wisdom should come with age but it’s not enough to get old to get wiser. 

Resiliency is the process of bouncing back and it relates/compliments wisdom and personality well. Resilient individuals possess the ability to bounce back and overcome challenging situations. Ultimately, causing them to learn and grow from the experience. In 2009, the Army implemented the 
Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program (CSF), a universal prevention initiative designed to train all soldiers and their families in mental fitness and resilience (Litz, 2009). Resilience acts as a buffer during difficult times, helping individuals maintain their well-being even in the face of life’s challenges. When it comes to emotional resilience in older adults it helps them maintain happiness and avoid hopelessness, and to deal with such feelings as irritability, sadness, anger, or fear (Lavertsky, 2014). 

The relationship between these factors becomes even more evident when we think about their impact on well-being. Gorvett (2020), notes our personalities are intrinsically linked to our wellbeing as we age. Well-being is defined as the holistic concept encompassing physical, mental, and social aspects of an individual’s life. The Lothian Birth Cohort study was conducted of a group of people who had their personality traits and intelligence examined in June 1932 or June 1947, when they were still at school around 11 years of age (Gorvett, 2020). Later the Mõttus along with colleagues from the University of Edinburgh, tracked down hundreds of the same people when they were in their 70s or 80s, and gave them two more identical tests, several years apart (Gorvett, 2020). They were able to compare both strategies at once, revealing younger groups personalities remain the same overall, while older groups personalities tend to shift (Gorvett, 2020).

Wise and resilient individuals, who exhibit positive personality traits, tend to have higher levels of well-being. They posses a greater ability to cope with stress, maintain positive relationships, and make sound decisions. Furthermore, contributing to their overall life satisfaction and happiness. As we understand these relationships, we can explore strategies to enhance our own wisdom, resilience, and positive personality traits, ultimately leading to improved well-being.

References: 

Ananthasamy, A. (2016). The Wisdom of the Aging Brain. 
Nautilus, 
14, 68–75.

Gorvett, Z. (2020, March 16). How your personality changes as you age. 
BBC. 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200313-how-your-personality-changes-as-you-age

Lavretsky, H. (2014). Resilience and Aging :
 Research and Practice. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Litz B. T. (2014). Resilience in the aftermath of war trauma: a critical review and commentary. 
Interface focus, 
4(5), 20140008. 

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2014.0008