Psychology Unit

The Psychology Unit was initially headed by Paul B. Baltes and Jacqui Smith, meanwhile by Ulman Lindenberger.

Foci of Interest

Older woman playing solitaire on a tablet — © Pixabay

© Pixabay

Intelligence and Intellectual Functioning

Mechanics of intelligence
Pragmatics of intelligence

Self and Personality

Self-concept
Personality dimensions
Emotional state/affect
Self-regulatory processes

Social Relationships

Network structure
Social support
Changes of the network
Negative aspects
Satisfaction with relationships
Relationships in retrospect

Further information can be found on the website of the Center for Lifespan Psychology at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.

Selected Publications

Gerstorf, D., Ram, N., Röcke, C., Lindenberger, U., & Smith, J. (2008). Decline in life satisfaction in old age: Longitudinal evidence for links to distance-to-death. Psychology and Aging, 23, 154–168. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.23.1.154

Kotter-Grühn, D., Kleinspehn-Ammerlahn, A., Gerstorf, D., & Smith, J. (2009). Self-perceptions of aging predict mortality and change with approaching death: 16-year longitudinal results from the Berlin Aging Study. Psychology and Aging, 24, 654–667. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016510

Lindenberger, U., & Ghisletta, P. (2009). Cognitive and sensory declines in old age: Gauging the evidence for a common cause. Psychology and Aging, 24, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014986

Smith, J., & Baltes, P. B. (1999). Trends and profiles of psychological functioning in very old age. In P. B. Baltes & K. U. Mayer (Eds.), The Berlin Aging Study: Aging from 70 to 100 (pp. 197–226). Cambridge University Press.

Smith, J., & Freund, A. M. (2002). The dynamics of possible selves in old age. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 57B, P492–P500. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/57.6.P492