SPRING 2025 SEMINARS OF THE ROBERT N. BUTLER COLUMBIA AGING CENTER | Assets of Aging: A Series on the Capabilities that Accrue with Longer Lives

Join us for the Columbia Aging Center’s ONLINE seminar–the next in a series that focuses on the assets of aging and the capabilities that accrue with longer lives. Please register to attend via Zoom on April 30, 2025. Details and registration link below.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025, 12:00PM-1:00PM ET

Life well reflected: to understand wisdom holistically

Eeva K. Kallio, PsyD

Associate Adjunct Professor

Wisdom and Learning Research Team

University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Wisdom in practice Research Group Member, Academy of Finland

Virtual Seminar

Location: Zoom

Register to attend via Zoom at: https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZdYpL45BQvqsHpC5x69Oyg

Abstract: Based on our recent work, we suggest that adult development and wisdom are closely related phenomenon. Wisdom is an axiological term, tied to values and conception of the human being as “an ideal”, a best expression of humanity. We analyzed 19 wisdom models and metamodels and created a new “Holistic wisdom metamodel” (HWM) which sets for the factors that are essential to describe wisdom. It is a bidirectional model and includes both subjective factors and external actions in different contexts.  In the HWM, complex integrative though is in the core of wisdom, indicating ability for multidimensional reflection on cognitive, emotional and ethical realms, manifesting in practice. Among wisdom scholars, it is commonly agreed that the main source of wisdom is a deep reflection upon one’s experiences and lifespan.  The relationship between age and wisdom is unclear and complicated, but wisdom seems to be protective of well-being in older adults. Complex integrative thinking as part of wisdom in older adults hasn’t been studied exhaustively so far. As wisdom is multidimensional, it has been assumed that many different factors have impact on growth of it (situation, resources, specific type of wisdom dimensions, good education, personality factors, cognitive load of tasks). Longitudinal research is needed in this matter, as cognitive dimension of wisdom may be vulnerable to age-related changes. However, some emotional wisdom features seem to be stable, or even grow, with age. It seems that different domains of wisdom develop differently, and some domains are stronger than others in old age.