Can wisdom be fostered: Time to test the model of wisdom

摘要

Several psychological theories and models of wisdom have been developed. Despite converging trend from different theories and models in the understanding of wisdom, intervention plans or attempts to facilitate wisdom have been meager. In this study, different components of the MORE Life Experience Model of Wisdom were taken as intervention targets, and these components were targeted through mindfulness training, journal writing, narrative simulation, and case discussion on leadership virtues. The basic purpose was to seek the answer for the possibility of development of wisdom in individuals by testing MORE model and we plan to answer this by fulfilling two aims: first, to find empirical support for the MORE life experience model, we wanted to see whether MORE components predict participants’ self-rated wisdom scores; and second, to use this model as an intervention tool to foster wisdom. Intervention, lasted for 18?weeks, was done among 160 students (age range 19–22?years) enrolled for “leadership” course. Complete data were obtained from 108 participants. Result suggests Habitual Action (β ?=?0.24, p ??0.05), Personal Mastery (β ?=?0.24, p ??0.05), and Suppression (β ?=?0.20, p ??0.05) predicted Cognitive Wisdom; Personal Mastery (β ?=?0.34, p ??0.001; β ?=?0.43, p ??0.01) and Mindfulness (β ?=?0.23, p ??0.05; β ?=?0.26, p ??0.05) predicted Affective and Reflective Wisdom; and composite wisdom was predicted by Mindfulness (β ?=?0.33, p ??0.001) and Reappraisal (β ?=?0.24, p ??0.01). After intervention there were changes in Suppression (d ?=?0.34) and Habitual Action (d ?=?0.26). The study concluded with an affirmation to the conviction that wisdom may be amenable to the intervention.