The psychological niche of older Japanese and Americans through auto-photography: aging and the search for peace.
In an effort to understand aging cross-culturally, photography as a universal language was used to perceive the perceiver. Persons averaging seventy-three years of age from Japan and the United States were asked to describe "Who are you?" by taking (or having someone else take) six photographs. A content analysis of the photographs showed that older Japanese appear to be inward oriented (inside own territory, gardens, residence) and aesthetically oriented, while older Americans were more oriented toward other people. The results were interpreted in terms of differences in the search for peace. Peace is sought through self-harmony in the orient, but through social harmony in the occident.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000375:Aging; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D012649:Self Concept; D014481:United States