The promotion of psychological development in the aging process

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the main theoretical and empirical foundations for the promotion of psychological development with older people. The orientation of developmental psychology to older people has arisen because of interest among psychologists in using developmental approaches of human behavior and development for understanding the plasticity of the aging mind and development, and the importance of relations between individuals and ecological se_ ings as a framework to understand diversity in the course of human development in the second half of life. A developmental psychology perspective applied to older people development has arisen as well through the implementation of interventions designed and delivered both in individualized and community-based ways. The most important conceptual foundations and empirical work being done to defi ne bases and features of developmental psychology applied to older people will be discussed as well as the implications of it for applications of developmental science aimed at improving human development of older people through the provision of programs and policies predicated on the use of a developmental psychology perspective for understanding and enhancing the lives of older people.

Key words: development, aging, intervention.