The tasks for personal growth in the second half of life are different from those in the first half of life. In this slide-lecture, we look deeply at the "stages of the soul:" Call, Search, Struggle, Breakthrough and Return. These stages offer a "map" of psycho-spiritual development that incorporates ideas such as individuation (Jung), ego-integrity (Erikson), and gero-transcendence (Tornstam), offering a vision of positive aging in later life.
We begin our assessment with an overview of psychological development in the second half of life, illustrated by self-portraits of Rembrandt and selected dreams. This account gives a foundation for appreciating dimensions of positive aging, such as "successful aging" and "productive aging." The main message of the presentation is an account of what "conscious aging" might signify, with attention to implications for policy and practice in response to population aging.
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University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 South University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106