The Measurement of Wisdom: A Commentary on Taylor, Bates, and Webster's Comparison of the SAWS and 3D-WS

Abstract

In a commentary on Taylor, Bates, and Webster's article (2011, Experimental Aging Research, 37, pp. 129–140), the author (a) clarifies the development and assessment of the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS); (b) describes the difference between the essential components of wisdom and its predictors, correlates, and consequences; and (c) conducts additional bivariate correlation analyses between the components of the 3D-WS and Webster's Self-Administered Wisdom Scale (SAWS) and all the forgiveness and psychological well-being subscales. Results show that the cognitive, reflective, and affective dimensions of the 3D-WS were significantly and positively correlated with all the forgiveness and psychological well-being subscales. By contrast, only the emotional regulation and humor components of the SAWS were consistently positively associated with those subscales. It appears that the 3D-WS measures the essential cognitive, reflective, and affective components of wisdom, whereas the SAWS contains a reflective wisdom component, a wisdom predictor, a consequence of wisdom, and two necessary but not sufficient wisdom components.

Notes

Note. Adapted from Ardelt, M. (2004). Wisdom as expert knowledge system: A critical review of a contemporary operationalization of an ancient concept. Human Development, 47, 257–285.

Note. **p < .01; *p < .05; N = 176.