Scientific Insights and Strategies on Relieving Our Loneliness: The Wiser You Are, the Less Lonely You’ll Be

New Study Finds that People who are Highly Wise Did Not Feel Lonely

A new systematic review of 57 studies finds that people who are highly wise did not feel lonely.  (EE Lee.) This is important because components of wisdom can be learned.  Wisdom is a personality trait that can be scientifically measured. (M. Thomas.)

Wisdom has been discussed for centuries in religious and philosophical texts. It is often viewed as a fuzzy psychological construct analogous to consciousness, stress, and resilience.  This Blog focuses is on practical rather than theoretical wisdom. While there are different conceptualizations of wisdom, it is best defined as a complex human characteristic or trait with specific components.

The following are measured in the SD-WISE Scale

1.  Prosocial Behaviors and Attitudes:

This subscale assesses the individual’s inclination toward empathy, compassion, and altruistic behaviors. It measures their tendency to consider the welfare of others and engage in prosocial acts.

2.  Emotional Regulation:

This subscale focuses on emotional stability and the ability to regulate and manage one’s emotions effectively. It evaluates the individual’s capacity to remain calm and composed in challenging situations.

3.  Openness to New Experiences:

This subscale measures the individual’s willingness to explore novel ideas, engage in new experiences, and adapt to change. It reflects an individual’s receptiveness to learning and growth.

4.  Lifespan Context:

This subscale examines the individual’s awareness of the broader context of life, including their understanding of the historical and cultural influences that shape human experiences. It assesses the ability to perceive life events within a broader perspective.

5.  Self-Reflection and Self-Knowledge:

This subscale captures the individual’s capacity for introspection, self-examination, and understanding of their own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It measures self-awareness and insight.

6.  Value Relativism and Tolerance:

This subscale assesses the individual’s recognition and acceptance of diverse perspectives and values. It reflects their ability to appreciate and respect differing opinions, beliefs, and cultural norms.

7.  Decisiveness:

This subscale focuses on the individual’s ability to make sound judgments and decisions. It measures their capacity to consider multiple factors, weigh options, and arrive at thoughtful and rational choices.

8.  Spirituality:

This subscale evaluates the individual’s sense of spirituality and connection to something larger than oneself. It encompasses beliefs, faith, and experiences related to transcendence and meaning in life.

Interventions Proven to Enhance Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Components of Wisdom

Behavioral interventions exist and more are being developed to increase the levels of these individual components. Study subjects include those with mental or physical disabilities and healthy people from the community.

1. Teaching:

   1. critical thinking skills, moral reasoning, emotional intelligence, and encouraging the exploration of philosophical questions. Providing opportunities for dialogue and reflection can also enhance wisdom-related qualities.

2. Mentoring and Role Models:

   1. to wise mentors or role models can have a profound impact on the development of wisdom. Interacting with individuals who demonstrate wisdom can provide valuable guidance, support, and inspiration. Mentors can share their experiences, offer different perspectives, and provide feedback, thereby facilitating the growth of wisdom in others.

3. Lifespan Development and Experience:

   1. Wisdom is often associated with life experience and the accumulation of knowledge. Encouraging individuals to engage in diverse experiences, pursue learning opportunities, and seek out challenges can contribute to their personal growth and the development of wisdom over time.

4. Ethical and Philosophical Contemplation:

   1. Engaging in ethical reasoning and philosophical contemplation can enhance wisdom-related thinking. Exploring ethical dilemmas, moral principles, and philosophical perspectives can broaden one’s understanding, deepen critical thinking skills, and foster the ability to make wise choices.

It’s worth noting that these interventions are not guaranteed to result in the immediate or complete development of wisdom.  Wisdom is a complex and multifaceted construct that can evolve over time through a combination of personal effort, experiences, and various influences.

Spirituality Contributes Positively to Wisdom, but Apparently Less So

There are 30 scientific studies published on wisdom as an antidote to loneliness. Overall, the results are consistent.  The characteristic of spirituality has been studied separately, however, because it has appeared to be different.  Most recently, scientists developed a subset of the new 24-item San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE) to evaluate spirituality. (DV Jeste.)

Similar to other components as well as overall wisdom, spirituality is significantly associated with better mental health and well-being, and may add to the predictive utility of the total wisdom score.

Spirituality is, however, a weaker contributor to overall wisdom than components like pro-social behaviors and emotional regulation. Longitudinal studies of larger and more diverse samples are needed to explore mediation effects of these constructs on well-being and health.

References

Lee EE, Bangen KJ, Avanzino JA, Hou B, Ramsey M, Eglit G, Liu J, Tu XM, Paulus M, Jeste DV. Outcomes of Randomized Clinical Trials of Interventions to Enhance Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Components of Wisdom: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 1;77(9):925-935. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0821. PMID: 32401284; PMCID: PMC7221873.

Thomas ML, Palmer BW, Lee EE, Liu J, Daly R, Tu XM, Jeste DV. Abbreviated San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE-7) and Jeste-Thomas Wisdom Index (JTWI) – CORRIGENDUM. Int Psychogeriatr. 2022 Mar 23:1. doi: 10.1017/S1041610222000011. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35319427.

Jeste DV, Thomas ML, Liu J, Daly RE, Tu XM, Treichler EBH, Palmer BW, Lee EE. Is spirituality a component of wisdom? Study of 1,786 adults using expanded San Diego Wisdom Scale (Jeste-Thomas Wisdom Index). J Psychiatr Res. 2021 Jan;132:174-181. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.09.033. Epub 2020 Sep 30. PMID: 33126011; PMCID: PMC7736537.