“Searching for the Fountain of Youth: Psychology of Successful Aging” PSY280
Interim 2024 photographs can be found on SmugMug!
NOTE: For Psychology majors the course counts for both Interim and as a psychology major elective course. If you are not a psychology major, then you will have a psychology (PSY) course listed on your transcript and in the elective list at bottom of DegreeWorks.
Check out Interim 2024’s TikTok at Lifelong Learning!!
Course description: The average life expectancy has been steadily increasing over the last four decades. The habits that are necessary increase chances of healthy longevity include physical exercise, nutrition, mental exercise, social engagement and psychological well-being. Students will examine these factors through readings and by engaging with community older adults, including members of Wofford’s Lifelong Learning. The course examines basic content of a psychology-based “adult development and aging” course, including theories/findings regarding physical, cognitive, social, emotional development, from the “successful aging” perspective. The course considers societal impact of ageism, longevity, living environments and other age-related issues. Students will interview an older adult on a successful aging topic, develop a personal successful aging plan, and create a TED-like talk that will be presented to the community.
This is a graded interim course (A-F) with workload equivalent to one semester long course. This course counts as a psychology elective for psychology majors.
When/Where: MTWRF 9-11:20; combination of RMSC and Lifelong Learning at Central Methodist; opportunities to interact with older adults at other day/times will also be available.
How to learn more: email Dr. Bopp at boppkl@wofford.edu
Students that register for the course are required to attend the mandatory meeting on Tue Dec 5th at 11am!
Service Learning course component:
An “intergenerational” course will be offered at Lifelong Learning. Wofford students enrolled in the course will take turns teaching the older adults topics from social media to technology to other trends, and the older adults will take a turn teaching the students about topics they enjoy. The opportunity for students to interact with older adults allows students to apply learning and see real world examples of (successful) aging.
Reading: We will read Dr. Alan Castel’s “Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging”, selected articles and watch lots of TED talks!
Assignments:
Summary papers (3) on weekly readings and assigned articles/videos
Scaffolded assignment on successful aging factor
Leading class with Lifelong Learners
Life story Interview paper with older adult
TED-style talk and final essay on successful aging
MORE details:
Daily class schedule (subject to change!):
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thur | Fri | |
| LOC | RMSC | RMSC | Lifelong learning | RMSC | RMSC |
| week 1 | Intro to gerontology | Ageism; attitudes toward aging | Service learning at LL | Aging research methods; theories | Cognitive decline and aging; Alzheimer’s |
| week 2 | (MLK day) | Senior housing environments | Service learning at LL | Successful aging factors: exercise | Longevity |
| week 3 | Driving; Relationships | Retirement; Volunteerism | Service learning at LL | Loneliness & depression; happiness in older age | Biological causes of aging |
| week 4 | Theories of successful aging | How to create/give TED talk | Service learning at LL | TED talks | (no class) |
Detailed schedule:
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thur | Fri | |
| W1 | First day of interim; intro to gerontology, aging demographics; Personal age stories and imagining future self; Jane Fonda TED talk; Prepare for LL class | Better w/ Age Ch 1; Sensitivity training; “Expectations regarding aging” questionnaire Videos: CBS Sun 11/11/22 “Never too Old?”; Applewhite TED talk; Allende TED talk | Service Learning: LL class | Better w/ Age Ch 2; Aging research methods SOC theory; Centenarians; SuperAgers/role models “70 over 70” podcast and “Wiser than Me” podcast; Elworthy TEDx | Better w/ age Ch 3; memory and aging; Video PBS every minute counts video); Suzuki TED talk; Friendship/emotions Summary paper on Ch1-3 due |
| W2 | MLK day | Better w/ Age Ch 4; person-environment theorries; Living options for seniors; Creativity & wisdom Searching for Fountain of Youth CBS videos; | Service Learning: LL class; SA Factor handout due | Better w/ Age Ch 5: Factors in SA – exercise, nutrition, mental stimulation, etc. O’Keefe (running) TEDx; Stuckelberger TEDx; | Better w/ age Ch 6; SA factors continued; Fall prevention Buetter’s blue zones (TED talk); Functional longevity (Joon Yun TEDx) Summary paper on Ch 4-6 due |
| W3 | Better w/ Age Ch 7: Driving and aging Carstensen TED talk – socioemotional selectivity theory; Relationships; Steves TEDx talk; Pinker TED (secret to living longer) | Better w/ Age Ch 8: Retirement trends and decision factors; Volunteerism; Grandparenthood and family relationships Pearson TED talk (Lessons from longest study on human development) | Service Learning: LL class; Interview paper due | Better w/ Age Ch 9; Intergenerational programs; Freedman TED talk; Loneliness/depression (Holt Lundundstat TED talk); Waldiner TED talk | Biological/healthy/ science of longevity David Sinclair (TEDx talk); Reversing Aging (Eferati TEDx talk); Degrey TEDx; Summary paper on Ch 7-9 due |
| W4 | Review; Compare/contrast theories of SA | How to give good presentations; previous student presentations; presentation preparation | Service Learning: LL class; Final essay due 5pm | Presentations: TED talks; reflection due | no class |
Intergenerational Movie ideas:
Minari (2020)
Life Ahead (2020)
Driveways (2019)
Light Years Documentary
Keep on Keeping on documentary (2014)
Young @ Heart documentary
Hunt for Wilderpeople (2016)
Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
Assisted Living (2002)
Mid-August Lunch
My Afternoons with Magueritte
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)