Handbook of Emotion, Adult Development, and Aging.

The field of emotions research has recently seen a period of growth and expansion, both in traditional psychological literature and in gerontology. This text provides a broad overview and summary of where this field stands today, specifically with reference to lifecourse issues and aging. Written by a group of contributing authors, the text illustrates a life span developmental framework, a multidimensional view of emotion and its development, and quantitative and qualitative research findings. Divided into five sections, section one discusses five major theoretical perspectives including biological, discrete emotions, ethological, humanistic, and psychosocial. Section two on affect and cognition discusses the role of emotion in memory, problem-solving, and internal perceptions of self and gender. Section three on emotion and relationships expands on the role of emotion in sibling and parent/child relationships, as well as relationships between friends and romantic partners, and the emotional reaction to inter-personal loss across the lifespan. Section four on stress, health, and psychological well-being treats issues of stress and coping, religion, personality, and quality of life. The final section on continuity and change in emotion patterns and personality discusses emotion and emotionality throughout the lifespan.