This month: Wisdom
Wisdom? That doesn’t sound very scientific.
Traditionally, wisdom has been discussed in terms of philosophy and religion. Debates around this have been ongoing for centuries. But, over the past couple of decades, there has been an increasing focus on scientific research around concepts of wisdom.
But it’s a psychological construct – you can’t measure wisdom, can you?
Well, a new paper published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry notes that other psychological concept have been defined and measured, such as consciousness, stress and resilience.
What does this paper say about wisdom?
The authors argue that the basic concept of wisdom has always been the same, suggesting that it “probably has an underlying neurobiological basis”.
They propose a model of the neurobiology of wisdom, localised mainly in the prefrontal cortex and limbic striatum. They add: “Emerging research suggests that wisdom is linked to better overall health, well-being, happiness, life satisfaction, and resilience.”
Can I become wiser?
The paper states that wisdom seems to increase with age, despite the loss of physical health and fertility over time. But there is limited evidence as to whether you can successfully make a conscious effort to become wiser. They add that psychosocial (and possibly biological) interventions that enhance the function of brain areas involved might lead to enhanced wisdom.
What about owls? Why do people think owls are wise?
This is thought to relate to Greek mythology – the goddess Athene, who symbolised wisdom, was often depicted with an owl nearby. The most common theory is that this association was inspired by owls’ big eyes and solemn appearance.
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