Retirement Experiences of Psychologists
Published on 22. April 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
132 pages
978-1-5275-9688-7 (ISBN)
Description
Today, almost all Americans can expect to live longer and healthier lives than their parents or grandparents ever thought possible, which introduces an entirely new realm of opportunities and challenges than previously contemplated. Although often underappreciated, how this new generation of well-educated, longer living citizens will ultimately decide to develop personally satisfying lives, beyond relying upon traditional jobs and employment colleagues for meaningful affirmation in retirement, is truly uncharted territory. There are few role models or societal expectations for these unprecedented times-especially for women and ethnic minorities.This volume brings together distinguished senior psychologists from a wide range of former occupational positions to share their personal retirement experiences-their struggles, their aspirations, their eventual journeys. Many do not consider themselves "retired"-and some even suggest the concept of retirement itself needs examination and refinement. Advances in technology, frustrating physical ailments, and missing friends influence late life decisions. However, even when facing existential unknowns, each of the authors remains optimistic and open to seeking new directions in their lives. How they navigate their individual journeys in retirement suggests some common themes and pathways, although there are also many individual nuances.The unique personal story approach in this book enables the reader to share the concerns of retirement with each author and find out how they resolved those concerns in seeking a meaningful retirement. It is comforting to learn that there is no one path that applies to everyone. The authors share their thinking and decision-making in approaching their retirement and provide multiple guides for the reader to consider. Readers will also appreciate that "retiring to" something, instead of "retiring from" something, provides a new perspective in examining and shifting life and work goals in later life.
Today, almost all Americans can expect to live longer and healthier lives than their parents or grandparents ever thought possible, which introduces an entirely new realm of opportunities and challenges than previously contemplated. Although often underappreciated, how this new generation of well-educated, longer living citizens will ultimately decide to develop personally satisfying lives, beyond relying upon traditional jobs and employment colleagues for meaningful affirmation in retirement, is truly uncharted territory. There are few role models or societal expectations for these unprecedented times-especially for women and ethnic minorities.This volume brings together distinguished senior psychologists from a wide range of former occupational positions to share their personal retirement experiences-their struggles, their aspirations, their eventual journeys. Many do not consider themselves "retired"-and some even suggest the concept of retirement itself needs examination and refinement. Advances in technology, frustrating physical ailments, and missing friends influence late life decisions. However, even when facing existential unknowns, each of the authors remains optimistic and open to seeking new directions in their lives. How they navigate their individual journeys in retirement suggests some common themes and pathways, although there are also many individual nuances.The unique personal story approach in this book enables the reader to share the concerns of retirement with each author and find out how they resolved those concerns in seeking a meaningful retirement. It is comforting to learn that there is no one path that applies to everyone. The authors share their thinking and decision-making in approaching their retirement and provide multiple guides for the reader to consider. Readers will also appreciate that "retiring to" something, instead of "retiring from" something, provides a new perspective in examining and shifting life and work goals in later life.
Today, almost all Americans can expect to live longer and healthier lives than their parents or grandparents ever thought possible, which introduces an entirely new realm of opportunities and challenges than previously contemplated. Although often underappreciated, how this new generation of well-educated, longer living citizens will ultimately decide to develop personally satisfying lives, beyond relying upon traditional jobs and employment colleagues for meaningful affirmation in retirement, is truly uncharted territory. There are few role models or societal expectations for these unprecedented times-especially for women and ethnic minorities.This volume brings together distinguished senior psychologists from a wide range of former occupational positions to share their personal retirement experiences-their struggles, their aspirations, their eventual journeys. Many do not consider themselves "retired"-and some even suggest the concept of retirement itself needs examination and refinement. Advances in technology, frustrating physical ailments, and missing friends influence late life decisions. However, even when facing existential unknowns, each of the authors remains optimistic and open to seeking new directions in their lives. How they navigate their individual journeys in retirement suggests some common themes and pathways, although there are also many individual nuances.The unique personal story approach in this book enables the reader to share the concerns of retirement with each author and find out how they resolved those concerns in seeking a meaningful retirement. It is comforting to learn that there is no one path that applies to everyone. The authors share their thinking and decision-making in approaching their retirement and provide multiple guides for the reader to consider. Readers will also appreciate that "retiring to" something, instead of "retiring from" something, provides a new perspective in examining and shifting life and work goals in later life.
Reviews / Votes
"Obviously, this is a very readable and interesting volume. The editors directed the contributors to write their chapters in story format and the contributors not only complied, but were extremely open and willing to self-disclose. That's part of what makes it so readable. The interesting part is how many variations there are on what retirement means to people. I have said that we have taught people how to how to exercise and eat right to live long lives and to manage their finances in preparation for retirement, but not how to plan for a meaningful post-work life. The result of this oversight would be a large cadre of people who were, healthy, wealthy and bored! Fortunately, none of the 14 story tellers fits that model of having nothing to do in retirement. They have all maintained purpose in their lives. They all serve as wonderful role models for other psychologists anticipating the time when they will leave work behind them. This is especially true for women approaching retirement because there were so few women in the profession before them. [...] [This] is a valuable book for psychologists in every work environment who wonder when and how to retire successfully."Dorothy W. Cantor, PsyDFormer President, American Psychological Association"Recognizing the wide array of settings in which psychologist work, Pat DeLeon and Rod Baker asked individuals who had worked in different settings, and had differing times since they retired, to write, short personal essays on their experiences with retirement and how they moved through critical aspects of the experience. The resulting book is informative reading for those near retirement and those for whom retirement is over the horizon. It provides a way to conceptualize what each individual might gain in retirement and provides permission to explore many ideas and fail often, and begin again. This may be a lesson for many things in life, but it is wonderfully presented the stories in this book."Robert G. Frank, PhDPast President, University of New Mexico; Director, Center for Innovation in Health and Education; MPH Program Director, College of Population Health"Obviously, this is a very readable and interesting volume. The editors directed the contributors to write their chapters in story format and the contributors not only complied, but were extremely open and willing to self-disclose. That's part of what makes it so readable. The interesting part is how many variations there are on what retirement means to people. I have said that we have taught people how to how to exercise and eat right to live long lives and to manage their finances in preparation for retirement, but not how to plan for a meaningful post-work life. The result of this oversight would be a large cadre of people who were, healthy, wealthy and bored! Fortunately, none of the 14 story tellers fits that model of having nothing to do in retirement. They have all maintained purpose in their lives. They all serve as wonderful role models for other psychologists anticipating the time when they will leave work behind them. This is especially true for women approaching retirement because there were so few women in the profession before them. [...] [This] is a valuable book for psychologists in every work environment who wonder when and how to retire successfully."Dorothy W. Cantor, PsyDFormer President, American Psychological Association"Recognizing the wide array of settings in which psychologist work, Pat DeLeon and Rod Baker asked individuals who had worked in different settings, and had differing times since they retired, to write, short personal essays on their experiences with retirement and how they moved through critical aspects of the experience. The resulting book is informative reading for those near retirement and those for whom retirement is over the horizon. It provides a way to conceptualize what each individual might gain in retirement and provides permission to explore many ideas and fail often, and begin again. This may be a lesson for many things in life, but it is wonderfully presented the stories in this book."Robert G. Frank, PhDPast President, University of New Mexico; Director, Center for Innovation in Health and Education; MPH Program Director, College of Population Health
More details
Edition
Unabridged edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Unabridged edition
Product notice
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 148 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-5275-9688-7 (9781527596887)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Rodney R. Baker | Rodney R. Baker | Patrick H. DeLeon
Retirement Experiences of Psychologists
Book
04/2021
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
€93.03
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Rodney R. Baker, PhD, retired as Mental Health Director and Chief of Psychology at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He co-authored a history of VA psychology and edited and co-edited four books of career stories of VA psychology leaders. He received the 2017 American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology. Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, MPH, JD, is a former President of the American Psychological Association, member of the National Academy of Medicine, USA, and Honorary Fellow of several national nursing associations. Beginning with the first day of the Watergate hearings in 1973, he served on Capitol Hill for nearly four decades, retiring as Chief of Staff for US Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
Rodney R. Baker, PhD, retired as Mental Health Director and Chief of Psychology at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He co-authored a history of VA psychology and edited and co-edited four books of career stories of VA psychology leaders. He received the 2017 American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology. Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, MPH, JD, is a former President of the American Psychological Association, member of the National Academy of Medicine, USA, and Honorary Fellow of several national nursing associations. Beginning with the first day of the Watergate hearings in 1973, he served on Capitol Hill for nearly four decades, retiring as Chief of Staff for US Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
Rodney R. Baker, PhD, retired as Mental Health Director and Chief of Psychology at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He co-authored a history of VA psychology and edited and co-edited four books of career stories of VA psychology leaders. He received the 2017 American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology. Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, MPH, JD, is a former President of the American Psychological Association, member of the National Academy of Medicine, USA, and Honorary Fellow of several national nursing associations. Beginning with the first day of the Watergate hearings in 1973, he served on Capitol Hill for nearly four decades, retiring as Chief of Staff for US Senator Daniel K. Inouye.