Research reveals that wisdom does come with age

According to a recent Associated Press article, human wisdom really does increase with age. This is no longer just a cliché – research actually confirms that older people know better how to deal with conflict and uncertainties in life than middle-aged or younger people.

Wisdom in this case does not refer to facts or techonological skill as much as to what is known as “social” wisdom. This includes interactions with people from different backgrounds and dealing with conflict situations.

Researchers at the University of Michigan, led by Richard E. Nisbett, also found that older people show a greater likelihood to recognise differences in values among persons from different backgrounds. This means that they accept that things change and therefore also acknowledge that others may have different viewpoints than their own.

Interestingly, the research also found that the increase of wisdom with age is applicable to all levels of social class, education, and intelligence.

Dr. Nisbett said: "I hope our results will encourage people to assume that older people may have something to contribute when thinking about social problems.” And indeed, research results across a sample of 247 adults from all age groups confirm this.

The article states that, while increased wisdom was expected for those from higher age groups, the extent of wisdom among older people was a surprise. Dr. Nisbett referred to this as a “very large advantage for older people.”

According to Lynn A. Hasher, a psychology professor in Toronto, this is a very important breakthrough in terms of understanding the aging process. Rather than experiencing only loss with age, it can finally be recognised that wisdom and experience can be of benefit not only to individuals, but to society as a whole.

Dr. Hasher said: “It also suggests the critical importance of workplaces' maintaining the opportunity for older employees to continue to contribute.”

Dr. Nisbett is the lead author of the paper resulting from the study. He is also the co-director of the University of Michigan’s Cuture and Cognition Programme. Appropriately, he is 68 years old.

Although the study was conducted in the United States, it has important repercussions across the globe, where age is generally regarded as an unpleasant eventuality. Research like this however can significantly elevate the reverence for older people and the understanding that age comes with blessings, despite its side-effects.

Finally there is some academic substance to the phrase “older and wiser”. Hopefully studies like this will inspire further investigation into the many possible ways that older people can continue to be highly valued members of society.

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