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Biomedical subjects

U Lehr

Publications and source records attributed to U Lehr.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

[Trends in modern international gerontological research. Psychological aspects].

The present paper is based on the analysis of congress reports and gerontological journals and points up new trends in gerontological research. Quantitatively, there was an increase in the number of psycho-gerontological publications. However, relatively seen, they represent an almost unchanged percentage of the contributions to gerontological literature on the whole. Predominant themes in USA and West Germany are discussed. There is, on the one hand, an increasing differentiation and specialization of methodical contribution and, on the other hand, an increasing number of contributions which neglect the methodical aspect. A trend toward practically oriented research is shown, as can be seen in intervention gerontology. Aging is seen as a phanomena with biological, social, and ecological determinants. In conclusion the universality and generality of aging is questioned, the concept of a differential gerontology is proposed and so a greater consideration of the individuality of the aging process is found to be necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Parent-child-interaction in infancy (author's transl)].

On the basis of many experimental studies it is demonstrated that not only mother-child-relationship in infancy but also father-child-relationship is important for child development. Different patterns of mother-child-interaction as well as father-child-interaction during the first weeks after birth are reported and intervening variables are discussed. Kind and degree of interactions of both parents with the newborn and infant influence the emotional, social, and cognitive development of the child. On the other hand the birth of child and the behavior of the newborn determine personal development of father and mother, too. The growth of the family is to be regarded as a process which is based on the differentiated net work of conditions. The concentration of research on mother-child-contacts has to be rejected in the light of these new findings and has to be regarded as hostile against the family as a whole.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1977

[Aging in cities and in the country (author's transl)].

A growing concern with ecological issues has led gerontologist to analyze the life-situation of aged people in cities and in the country more precisely. While it is generally assumed that aging in the country has advantages to aging in the city, statistical figures (e.g. income, living conditions, health status, educational opportunities, institutions for the aged) show that country dweller's "cumulative disadvantages" have to be taken into consideration, disadvantages caused by interacting societal and individual factors in rural life. Psychological investigations--as e.g. the Bonn Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA)--show positive correlations between a central location of the home and increased general activity, broader scope of interests, more frequent use of communication media (newspapers, newscasts), better mood, greater readiness for involvement. While city-dwellers are more frequently engaged in social contacts outside of the family, country dwellers are more involved in interactions with the immediate family. The following practical considerations for the improvement of the situation of the aged in the country are presented: beginning in childhood and youth, conditions should be granted which allow the individual to live in ways which prevent too early aging; this ought to be supplemented by providing activating and stimulating environments for aging people and help for the aged, be it in special institutions or through activities in their familiar environment. It is shown that a differential ecogerontology is required, since (1) a simple distinction between city and country is by far too global, (2) similar ecological conditions are known to have different effects, depending on inter-individual differences, and (3) intraindividual patterns, and (4) it becomes evident that objective ecological conditions do not as clearly determine behavior in age as do cognitive representations of these ecological variables. This last statement is in accordance with the cognitive theory of aging. There can be no doubt that ecological variables influence the process of aging, but there is nothing like the aging in the country.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1977

[Education: a theme in gerontology (author's transl)].

The paper presents a review of the history of educational gerontology ("andragogy" or "gerontagogy") which has a special role within the field of gerontology. Whereas gerontological sciences such as biology, medicine, psychology, and sociology in (frequently interdisciplinary) approaches study the process of aging, educational gerontology makes use of the findings of these research areas, intending to influence the process of aging. There is a need for education in old age - provided this is not restricted to the acquisition of knowledge and skills or the extension of academic training into old age. It is stressed that an offer of "education for the aged" or even of "help for the life in age" very ofter is rejected by old people as they are induced to feel incompetent when invited to school and training courses of that kind. Future "gerontagogy" will have to notice and to respect resistance of that kind and will have to endeavour to increase the motivation to learn in old age in adequate ways. A first goal of educational gerontology should be to develop programs going beyond those developed for children and realized in traditional institutions of pedagogy. Referring to results of differential gerontology programs for "educating" and "stimulating" aged persons will have to be rather variable to fit individual goals and motivations of the old. The differential approach necessary to meet individual and rather specific demands will require a more thorough "training of trainers" than is realized today in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

[Transitional phases in human development (author's transl)].

Transitional phases in the course of Human Development which divide the course of development into different steps, have been searched far from the old. These transitional phases are very often seen to be at least initiated by physical resp. biological changes and accompanied by psychological or mental changes. The results of the Life-span-Psychology and especially the findings of the biographical studies of our Psychological Institue, which were started in the Fifties, shows that there are Transitional phases which neither related to biological change nor to role change nor to the change from the one decade of life to the other one. Much more important are very personal experiences which very often lead to a reorientation. - These findings are in agreement with cognitive theory of personality, according to which human behavior is dependent more on the situation as perceived, than on the stimulus-pattern contigent with this situation. Therefore the study of these situational concepts of individual is relevant for the Life-span-Psychology and specially for the analysis of transitional phases.

Aging↗