Judith Glück1, Susan Bluck. 1. Department of Psychology, Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt, Universitätsstrasse 65-67, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria. judith.glueck@uni-klu.ac.at
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study examined individual differences in laypeople's conceptions of wisdom using a person-oriented approach, as previous studies using a priori group variables may have underestimated the variability. Although there is a tradition of examining people's implicit theories of wisdom, this study is the first to also investigate their views of how wisdom develops. METHODS: A total of 1955 participants rated the importance of 8 items concerning what wisdom is and 9 items concerning how wisdom develops. RESULTS: Cluster analyses identified 2 conceptions of what wisdom is. Participants with a "cognitive conception" rated cognitive and reflective characteristics as central to wisdom; participants with an "integrative conception" additionally endorsed affective characteristics. Conceptions varied by age and sex. Concerning the development of wisdom, participants with a cognitive conception viewed learning from experiences and from wise persons as central; participants with an integrative conception rated experience with life challenges as equally important. DISCUSSION: Laypeople's views of wisdom are not unitary, and the way in which wisdom is viewed is related to how it is seen as developing in a person's life. These empirical differences in implicit theories of wisdom map onto theoretical differences in the views of wisdom researchers.
OBJECTIVES: This study examined individual differences in laypeople's conceptions of wisdom using a person-oriented approach, as previous studies using a priori group variables may have underestimated the variability. Although there is a tradition of examining people's implicit theories of wisdom, this study is the first to also investigate their views of how wisdom develops. METHODS: A total of 1955 participants rated the importance of 8 items concerning what wisdom is and 9 items concerning how wisdom develops. RESULTS: Cluster analyses identified 2 conceptions of what wisdom is. Participants with a "cognitive conception" rated cognitive and reflective characteristics as central to wisdom; participants with an "integrative conception" additionally endorsed affective characteristics. Conceptions varied by age and sex. Concerning the development of wisdom, participants with a cognitive conception viewed learning from experiences and from wise persons as central; participants with an integrative conception rated experience with life challenges as equally important. DISCUSSION: Laypeople's views of wisdom are not unitary, and the way in which wisdom is viewed is related to how it is seen as developing in a person's life. These empirical differences in implicit theories of wisdom map onto theoretical differences in the views of wisdom researchers.
Authors: Emily B H Treichler; Barton W Palmer; Tsung-Chin Wu; Michael L Thomas; Xin M Tu; Rebecca Daly; Ellen E Lee; Dilip V Jeste Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-02-03