<strong><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><p align="left"> </p></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;">ABSTRACT</span></span></strong><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><p align="left">This article presents a theoretical analysis and discussion of the theory of gerotranscendence, formulated</p><p align="left">by Lars Tornstam (University of Uppsala, Sweden). The theory is presented as a meta-theory of</p><p align="left">ageing, as a theory of universal and general ageing processes. Ageing is seen as an urge (a drive)</p><p align="left">towards a less engaged posititon in the wordly life, moving towards a higher degree of transcendence,</p><p align="left">with a more cosmic outlook and another definition of reality. In this article the theory is discussed from</p><p align="left">another theoretical position; Ageing seen in a cultural gerontological perspective, as a varied culturally</p><p align="left">and historically situated phenomenon – differing in different times and different cultures. The theoretical</p><p align="left">perspective underlines that ageing is complex dialectical processes, an intertwined interplay between</p><p align="left">individual development and cultural change. The varied individual ageing processes are not seen</p><p align="left">as the result of «drives». In Western post-modern cultures the ageing processes are becoming manifold,</p><p align="left">often contradictory. Elderly present versions of the selves that are becoming complex, multiplied (multiple</p><p align="left">selves), acting at different scenes, stamped by varied cultural values, presenting mixed versions of</p><p align="left">activity and passivity, engagement and retractment, wordliness and transcendence.</p></span></span><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldItalicMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldItalicMT;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldItalicMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldItalicMT;"><p>Key words:</p></span></span></em></strong></span><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldItalicMT;"><p> </p></span></em></strong></span><p> </p></em><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Ageing theories; gerotranscendence; cultural gerontology; postmodernism</span></span></strong>
The paradoxes of gerotranscendence: The theory of gerotranscendence in a cultural gerontological and post-modernist perspective
