Die unvollendete Architektur der menschlichen Ontogenese : Implikation für die Zukunft des vierten Lebensalters

Abstract

(LANG=en) Drawing on both evolutionary and ontogenetic perspectives, the basic biological-genetic and social-cultural architecture of human development across the life span is outlined. Three governing principles are involved. First, evolutionary selection evinces a negative age correlation and, therefore, genome-based plasticity and biological potential decrease with age. Second, for growth-aspects of human development to extend further into the life span, culture based resources are required at ever increasing levels. Third, because of age-related losses in biological plasticity, the efficiency of culture is reduced as lifespan development unfolds. Joint application of these principles suggests that the lifespan architecture becomes more and more incomplete with age. With regard to lifespan outcomes, degree of completeness can be defined as the ratio between gains and losses in functioning. Two examples are given to illustrate the implications of the lifespan architecture proposed. The first is a general theory of development involving the orchestration of three component processes: selection, optimization, and compensation. The second example considers the task of completing the life course in the sense of achieving a positive balance between gains and losses for all age levels. This goal is more and more difficult to attain as human development is extended into old age.

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