Functional Approaches to Lifespan Development

Abstract

Most of lifespan research focuses on age-related changes and plasticity as early markers of decline or performance improvements achieved through training interventions. This special issue on functional approaches to lifespan development focuses on age-related stabilization in complex functions such as cognitive and motor performance and well-being on the levels of brain and behavior. One central question focuses on what elements have to change for individually important outcomes to remain stable in old age, putting the many experimental studies on the plasticity of elementary processes in the context of the recognition that aging individuals most often successfully manage their development and maintain high levels of functioning. Aging research will profit from understanding the processes and potentials of lifespan developmental stabilization.

Age Differences in Nonhedonic Entertainment Experiences

“…The findings of this study might have broader implications beyond entertainment research. For example, from a functional life span development perspective (e.g., Martin, Jäncke, & Röcke, ), meaningful films could be used as a means to enable stabilization (i.e., a dynamic process that allows for flexibility with regard to environmental demands) because they might help (older) individuals to better accept their life or to develop a feeling of connectedness or competence and autonomy. A multidimensional measure of eudaimonic entertainment experiences such as we use in this work might help to understand the beneficial effects of meaningful movies and shed light on recreational or even therapeutic effects of entertainment media (cf.…”

Das zusammengelegte Stachelschwein

“…«Wieder andere, die sonst zurückgezogen und apathisch wirken, beginnen plötzlich, sich in der Gruppe über die Bilder auszutauschen.» 29 Zudem konnten signifikante Verbesserungen der Lebensqualität und der Stimmung festgestellt werden. 30 Paul M. Camic war ebenfalls an einem Programm beteiligt, in dem die Auswirkungen von Kunstbetrachtungen im Rahmen einer öffentlich zugänglichen Kunstgalerie auf die Sprachkompetenz und das Gedächtnis 26 Vgl Martin et al 2012,. 186.…”