In search of wisdom

12 males and 12 females aged 65-94 years (mean age = 70.7 years) were asked in what ways they had become wiser since early adulthood. Themes identified were itemized in a questionnaire which was completed twice by 15 females and 15 males of 65-90 years (mean age = 73.53 years), being answered the second time as they would have at about twenty years of age. From the results items were selected for a \Wisdom\" Scale which was given to 42 young subjects (18-25 years mean age = 20 years) 53 middle-aged (40-55 years mean age = 46.51 years) and 48 elderly subjects (65-88 years mean age = 73.08 years). While the analyses on the \"Wisdom\" scale indicated no significant sex or social class effects there was a predicted age effect with the elderly scoring about 9% higher than young and middle-aged scoring intermediately. The Wisdom scale also correlated with the Boylin Gordon and Nehrke (1976) Ego-Integrity scale at approximately 0.60 overall and 0.66 for the elderly. Test-retest reliability for the \"Wisdom\" scale devised was found to be 0.911. The results are interpreted as indicating that certain aspects of acquired wisdom as perceived by the presently elderly had been identified but cultural and chronological generality cannot be presumed."