Uppsala universitet



Uppsala universitet

The Theory of Gerotranscendence


The theory of gerotranscendence was developed to address what I saw as a perpetual mismatch between present theories in social gerontology and existing empirical data.

With points of departure from my own studies as well as from observations made by others, together with input from other theorists such as Jung and Erikson, I have suggested that human aging, the very process of living into old age, include a potential to mature into something I have called gerotranscendence. Simply put, gerotranscendence is a shift in meta perspective, from a materialistic and rational view of the world to a more cosmic and transcendent one, normally accompanied by an increase in life satisfaction.

Gerotranscendence is regarded as the final stage in a possible natural progression towards maturation and wisdom. According to the empirically based theory, the individual moving towards gerotranscendence may experience a series of gerotranscendental changes or developments. These typically include a redefinition of the Self and of relationships to others and a new understanding of fundamental existential questions. The individual becomes, for example, less self occupied and at the same time more selective in the choice of social and other activities. There is an increased feeling of affinity with past generations and a decreased interest in superfluous social interaction. The individual might also experience a decreased interest in material things and a greater need for solitary "meditation". Positive solitude becomes more important. There is also often a feeling of cosmic communion with the spirit of the universe, and a redefinition of time, space, life and death. Elements in cultures and subcultures, as well as experiences in the individual life, can facilitate or impede the gerotranscendental process.

Gerotranscendence does not imply any state of withdrawal or disengagement, as sometimes erroneously believed. It is not the old disengagement theory in new disguise. Rather, it is a theory that describes a developmental pattern beyond the old dualism of activity and disengagement. Signs of gerotranscendental development are however not seldom erroneously labelled as pathological by younger ones, including both children and old-age care staff.

The below documentation, with links to abstracts or full texts to many of the referred documents, is probably not complete. If you know about references, documents or links to be added, please let me know.

Lars Tornstam, e-mail: lars.tornstam@soc.uu.se


New Gerotranscendence leaflet

A two page easy to read informative leaflet for professionals
as well as the public at large is available here.

  In PDF-format. To download, right-click here or on the link above
and select Save target as... or Save link as...

    Book by Lars Tornstam:


Gerotranscendence: A Developmental Theory
of Positive Aging


Published by Springer Publishing Company, New York

Also available from (direct links to book)
Amazon, USA  and  Amazon, UK

"My thoughts on aging"

Read about how Swedish psychology student Emma Rydén describes
the way she and her life was positively affected by the theory.  


Publications by Lars Tornstam and/or colleagues


Other gerotranscendence related documents

General

Specific



Latest update: August 30, 2009

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