Subjective age: Toward a guiding lifespan framework

This article attempts to integrate the contributions of research in this volume of the International Journal of Behavioral Development with related research under a guiding lifespan framework that describes the dynamics of subjective age identification. The framework rests on the premise that subjective age derives from a process of anchoring and adjusting personal age perceptions in light of distal references points (i.e., internal representations of developmental models) and proximal reference points (i.e., historic, physical, normative, and interpersonal age markers) that guide the age younger and older individuals across the lifespan perceive themselves to be. In addition to being a potential alternative marker of development, subjective age is an interesting personal dimension along which to explore individual behavior and functioning. Future researchers have much to learn about its distinctive components, determinants and consequences across and within age groups.