by George E. Vaillant
Human
social and emotional development does not peak at age 30 but continues
throughout one's life. A person's upbringing does not set them on an
inescapable path toward a happy or unhappy life. These are two of the major
findings of the Harvard Grant Study, which has surveyed the physical and mental
health of an original cohort of 237 Harvard undergraduate men beginning in the
late 1930s. Using case studies as illustrations, former director Vaillant
(Aging Well) reviews the results of research investigating mental health,
longevity, alcoholism, resilience, and spirituality over time. Especially
interesting are his observations on the changing issues, methods, and
priorities throughout the project's history. The Grant Study remains the
longest ongoing longitudinal study of human development continuing to track
survivors (68 of the original group were still living as of March 2012) as they
approach 100 years.
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