Final reflections about the emotional experience in different stages of the vital cycle

Abstract

The present article presents the conclusions reached in relation to the emotional experience in the different stages of the life in general, and in the oldness, especially. It puts in evidence on the consistency between the results reached from the quantitative and qualitative exploration. In both cases they show the presence of positive changes in relation to the emotions during the aging. The above mentioned positive changes imply fundamentally the regulation, the control and the emotional maturity, as well as the meaningful search of pleasant situations that assure the well-being without coming to the overflow. Besides a major achievement of control and of regulation, the older adults possess more knowledge of themselves and of the others, which allow them to anticipate certain situations and to decide about consequence. The interpersonal contexts are the privileged scene where there are brought into play the skills of control and of emotional regulation. The achievement of a major integrity of the self makes them possible to be more spontaneous and to be less determined by social conventions or by the desire to show ideal images of themselves. Unlike the youngest, the interest of controlling, regulating or pretending centres on the care of the interpersonal relationships, which provide well-being; rather than the protection of self-image to others.