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Religion, Personality, and Aging: A Life Span Perspective
Author(s) -
McFadden Susan H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/1467-6494.00083
Subject(s) - generativity , psychology , personality , personality development , adult development , perspective (graphical) , life span , social psychology , id, ego and super ego , big five personality traits , developmental psychology , gerontology , medicine , artificial intelligence , computer science
A life span model of development provides the framework for examining the relation between religion and personality in aging persons. This article emphasizes the interplay of constancy and change in adult religious life. Important contextual factors that influence religion and personality are noted. A discussion of generativity and ego integrity shows how the maturing personality can embrace religiously motivated acts of justice and mercy as well as a deepening of spiritual life. Also discussed are the ways religion encourages generativity and ego integrative processes. The article concludes with suggestions for future studies of religion, personality, and aging utilizing a life span model of development.