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26 - Wisdom and Emotion

from Part VI - Wisdom and Other Psychological Constructs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2019

By
Ute Kunzmann  and
Judith Glück
Edited by
Robert J. Sternberg  and
Judith Glück
Robert J. Sternberg
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
Judith Glück
Affiliation:
Universität Klagenfurt, Austria
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Summary

Perhaps because the struggle of reason against emotion is an appealing image, emotion has rarely been considered a defining characteristic of wisdom. In this chapter, we argue that psychological wisdom research would benefit from a systematic investigation of the dynamic between wisdom and emotion for at least three related reasons. First, emotions provide important information to the self and others and can guide our behavior in situations that are complex, difficult, and uncertain, but require immediate action. Second, in many such situations it would be irrational to ignore one’s emotions because they are pretty much the only type of information that is available. Third, many, if not all, situations that require wisdom are inherently emotional and, thus, evoke emotions in the people concerned and require knowledge and skills to manage and regulate these emotions.
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The Cambridge Handbook of Wisdom , pp. 575 - 601
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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