Roberta’S Papers on the Psychology of Aging

By Roberta Provenzano

Roberta Provenzano believed the study of psychology should ultimately bring more happiness to the world. A deep thinker, she focused particularly on aging. Her collected articles on the subject propose to show that the myths and stereotypes of deterioration and senility associated with old age are based on preconceived notions rather than fact. She shows that, in spite of some physical limitations, the elderly, who are now in greater proportion in our society than ever before, can participate actively and constructively in their communities.

This collection, published in honor of Provenzano, addresses age-related topics with an expertise that seems more relevant as time passes. It explores myths and stereotypes imposed upon the elderly, biological aspects of aging, psychological aspects of aging, and sociological aspects of aging

Relying on scientific studies, Provenzano highlights how older people come to terms with specific conditions of aging. Quoting the adage You are as old as you feel, she infers that aging does not necessarily mean defeat and decline, but can instead be a rewarding experience of personal fulfillment and social contribution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462007103

Roberta Provenzano

Roberta Provenzano, a native of Marseille, France, came to the United States on contract with the United Nations in New York, where she held various positions. She completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and later a doctorate from the Saybrook Institute in San Francisco. She entered private practice and concentrated on her main interests, which included spiritual healing, depression, and aging.

Book preview

Roberta’s Papers

on the

Psychology

of

Aging

Roberta Provenzano, PhD

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

Roberta’s Papers on the Psychology of Aging

Copyright © 2011 by Roberta Provenzano, PhD

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The information, ideas, and suggestions in this book are not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before following any suggestions contained in this book, you should consult your personal physician or mental health professional. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising as a consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestions in this book.

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-0712-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-0711-0 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-0710-3 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011904435

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 5/16/2011

Contents

Foreword

Part One

1

2

3

4

5

6

Part Two

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

References

Table 1

Foreword

Roberta Provenzano was a psychologist in private practice in New York. She received her Ph.D in Psychology from the Saybrook Institute in San Francisco. She had many fields of interest, namely body/mind interrelationship, spiritual healing, psychoneuroimmunology, stress, and depression. Aging was a topic she particularly focused on in the course of her extensive research work.

The set of articles contained in the present book has been selected from documents she had kept in her filing cabinet. Looking through them, I came across unpublished papers that I read and found of publishing quality, as well as deserving recognition. I picked first those on aging because, though written in the early 1990s, the situation and arguments they develop are still very much valid today.

These articles are not only informative and well documented, but have also an advocacy potential toward the elderly, raising awareness of the aged, ageism, the prejudices associated with aging, and focus on the valuable contribution older people can offer to our society.

Since the World Assembly on Aging, held in Vienna in 1982,