Jada often thinks back to things her grandmother would say that, at the time, she thought was silly, but now realizes her grandmother had amazing insight into human nature. Her grandmother didn’t have an advanced degree, but she knew how to manage the ups and downs of life. Baltes would say she had: a. enlightenment. b. wisdom. c. proficiency d. competence.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b. wisdom.
Wisdom is a deep understanding and insight into life, human nature, and the ability to make sound judgments and decisions, especially in complex or uncertain situations. It often comes from life experience rather than formal education or specialized training. In this case, Jada’s grandmother demonstrated wisdom by having practical knowledge about managing life’s challenges and understanding human behavior, even without having an advanced degree.
According to Baltes, wisdom involves knowledge about the fundamental pragmatics of life. It includes the ability to reflect on and integrate different perspectives, to tolerate ambiguity, and to make decisions that balance various interests, including the self and others. Wisdom often involves an emotional and moral component, allowing a person to deal with uncertainty, change, and the complexities of human interactions effectively.
The example shows that Jada’s grandmother’s sayings, which initially seemed silly, actually contained valuable lessons about life that she only appreciated later. This illustrates a key aspect of wisdom: recognizing the deeper meaning behind life’s experiences and using that understanding to navigate future situations.
Other options like enlightenment, proficiency, and competence are less appropriate here. Enlightenment typically refers to a spiritual awakening or gaining profound knowledge often related to philosophical or religious insight. Proficiency refers to being skilled or expert in a specific task or field, and competence means having the necessary ability or knowledge to do something successfully. Neither proficiency nor competence necessarily involves the broader, reflective understanding of life that wisdom entails.
In summary, Baltes would say that Jada’s grandmother had wisdom because she possessed insightful, practical knowledge about life that guided her through its ups and downs, showing an understanding beyond formal education or technical skill.