Hans Thomae

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Hans Thomae (born July 31, 1915 in Reit im Winkl ; † November 16, 2001 in Bonn ) was a German developmental psychologist , founder of interdisciplinary gerontology in post-war Germany, member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and President of the International Association of Gerontology.

biography

Thomae studied psychology , philosophy and history in Berlin and Bonn, where he also received his doctorate in 1940 at the age of 25. Two years later he completed his habilitation in Leipzig and after the war, from 1950, initially worked as a private lecturer in Bonn. He took up his first professorship in Erlangen in 1954 , before returning to the University of Bonn in 1960 , where he was also director of the Institute of Psychology until his retirement in 1984.

Scientific achievements

Hans Thomae is one of the co-founders of gerontology as an interdisciplinary research on aging and has made a name for himself in establishing a modern developmental psychology that encompasses the entire life span. His studies on personality development are rated as groundbreaking; they focus on actively dealing with the changing demands of life. As early as 1953, the Bonn scientist began a longitudinal study of German post-war children and found how amazingly well many of them coped with the harsh living conditions in bombed-out cities. In addition to happy circumstances, particular personal strengths, such as trust in one's own abilities and the maintenance of self-respect, are decisive for this quality.

The Bonn Gerontological Longitudinal Study (BOLSA) , which began in 1965 and in which Thomae examined the last phase of the life of men and women up to the very old age, is rated as equally significant . He documented his findings in numerous books. Hans Thomae made international psychology aware of the great differences between people of the same age in all aspects of performance and mental health, depending on personality and environment.

At the same time, his research opened up ways to enable more people to age in productivity and satisfaction by changing such conditions. Ultimately, many of the practical approaches that are standard in elderly care today are based on such work. Equally important scientifically for psychology is the changeability of personality development over the entire life span.

Thomae shaped several generations of geriatric psychologists. They teach and research at leading German and foreign universities, such as Ursula Lehr , Andreas Kruse , Erhard Olbrich , Georg Rudinger and Reinhard Schmitz-Scherzer . He was a founding member of the German Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics (DGGG).

Publications (selection)

  • The individual and his world. Göttingen, Hogrefe, 1996 3rd ed.
  • Aging styles and fates - e. Contribution to differential gerontology. Bern, Huber, 1983
  • as Ed .: Theories and forms of motivation. Volume 1: Motivation and Emotion. Göttingen 1983, pp. 312-396.
  • With Urs. Lehr: Forms of Mental Aging . Enke, 1987 (final report of the Bonn longitudinal study of aging, BOLSA)

International activities

Hans Thomae founded and inspired research networks, especially with the countries of Europe and North America. As the founder of the journal Vita Humana (today: Human Development ) and the International Society of Behavioral Development (ISSBD), he created suitable forums that still exist today. In doing so, he kept interdisciplinary approaches in collaboration with doctors, biologists and neuroscientists, sociologists and educators in mind. At over 70 years of age, Hans Thomae was President of the International Association of Gerontology and in this capacity was responsible for world congresses in gerontology.

Scientific awards

Hans Thomae was a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. His scientific achievements have found national and international appreciation, including the award of honorary doctorates from the universities of Leuven (Belgium), Leipzig, Moscow and Rethymno (Crete). In 2001 he was honored by the German Society for Psychology (DGPs) with the "Honor for Scientific Lifetime Achievement".

literature

  • Georg Rudinger : In memoriam Hans Thomae. Bouvier, Bonn 2003, ISBN 3-416-03047-8 (With a biographical interview from 1994, conducted by Ralph Stöwer and Georg Rudinger).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Thomae, Hans
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German developmental psychology, gerontological psychologist and university professor
DATE OF BIRTH July 31, 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH Reit im Winkl
DATE OF DEATH November 16, 2001
Place of death Bonn