The Aging of Intelligence: Potential and Limits

Ursula M. Staudinger, Steven W. Cornelius and Paul B. Baltes

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1989, vol. 503, issue 1, 43-59

Abstract: The aging of intelligence features a paradox including both growth and decline in performance, as well as latent potential and aging-related limits to further growth. Two resolutions to the paradox are offered. First, because of the dual-process nature of intelligence—fluid mechanics versus crystallized pragmatics—there is the possibility of differing life-span trajectories characterized by a decline in the mechanics and select growth in the pragmatics. Second, because of the facilitative and enriching effect of knowledge-based pragmatics, highly effective cognitive performances in old age are possible despite an aging-related loss in cognitive mechanics. A model of selective optimization with compensation is presented to elucidate various interventional strategies that allow for intellectual efficacy and growth despite increased biological vulnerability and decreased intellectual reserve capacity. A visionary social policy for old age needs to recognize this double-edged nature of the aging mind: limits and potential.

Date: 1989
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0002716289503001004 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:anname:v:503:y:1989:i:1:p:43-59

DOI: 10.1177/0002716289503001004

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().