Eric Schmitt, Ph.D., Professor, Lecturer

Institute of Gerontology University of Heidelberg Bergheimer Str. 20 69115 Heidelberg Germany Tel.: + 49 6221 - 54 81 82 Fax: + 49 6221 - 54 59 61 e-mail: eric.schmitt[at]gero.uni-heidelberg.de

Education

• 1990 Diplom (M.A. equivalent) in Psychology, University of Heidelberg
• 1993 Ph.D., University of Greifswald
• 2000 Qualified as a university lecturer (Habilitation), University of Heidelberg

Work and Research Interests

• Age stereotypes
• Coping
• Intergenerational relationships

Projects

• Social participation and responsibility among older people in Eastern Europe – A cooperation between the Memory, Responsibility, and Future Foundation and the Institute for Gerontology at the University of Heidelberg (funded by the Memory, Responsibility, and Future Fundation; 2008-2012; project collaborator, member of the steering group)

• INTERGERO: Implementation of an international interdisciplinary program for teaching Gerontology: A Consortia Implementation Project (funded by the European Community/United States of America Cooperation Program in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training; seit 2004; Intergero project coordinator Heidelberg)

• ILSE: Interdisziplinäre Längsschnittstudie des Erwachsenenalters über Bedingungen gesunden und zufriedenen Alters [Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development] (funded by the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ); 1. MZP 1993-1996, 2. MZP 1997-2000, 3. MZP 2005-2007; member of the extended steering group)

• BIAS: Bilder des Alters und Sozialstruktur [Images of old age and social structure] (funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and Senior Citizens; 1994-1997; project leader, Greifswald/Heidelberg)

• Lebenssituation und Lebensrückblick (ehemaliger) jüdischer Emigranten und Lagerhäftlinge [Life situation and life review of (former) Jewish emigrants and concentration camp survivors] (funded by the Allgemeine Hypothekenbank Foundation; 1990-2000; project leader)

Courses

• Theories of Gerontology
• Lifespan Psychology
• Intervention
• Coping
• Psychotraumatology
• Resilience
• Cognitive Development
• Biographical Research

Further Professional Expertise and Activities

• 1999 Member of the European Expert Advisory Group on Healthy Ageing
• 1999-2007 Member of the Federal Commission for the promotion of young scientists
• 2002 Member of the Expert Commission on “Old Age and Politics” (Freidrich-Ebert Foundation)
• 2008 Visiting Professor at the University of Zurich, Switzerland

Cooperations

• Ain Shams University, Cairo, Prof. Ahmed Kamel Mortagy. Faculty of Medicine
• European Master of Gerontology
• United Nations, Focal Point for Ageing Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Dr. Alexandre Sidorenko
• Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, Scripps Gerontology Center, Department of Sociology & Gerontology,
Prof. Dr. Suzanne R. Kunkel
• Moscow State University, Department of Developmental Psychology, Prof. Dr. Andrei I. Podolskij
• Nottingham Trent University, Psychology Division, Dr. Nigel Hunt
• Oregon State University, College of Health & Human Sciences, Prof. Michael R. Levenson
• Promotionskolleg „Kognitive Einschränkung im Alter und die räumliche Alltagsumwelt“ [Graduate School of
Cognitive Impairment in Old Age and the Spatial Everyday Environment]
• San Francisco State University, College of Health & Human Sciences, Prof. Dr. Anabel Pelham
• Universidad de Salamanca, Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva – Master en
gerontología, Prof. Dr. Belén Bueno Martinez
• University of Zürich – Department of Psychology, Gerontopsychology, Prof. Dr. Mike Martin
• University of Southampton, Health Psychology Research Group, Prof. Dr. Peter G. Coleman

Selected Publications

Schmitt, E. (2008). Altersbilder und die Verwirklichung von Potenzialen des Alters [Age stereotypes and the

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2006). A multidimensional scale for the measurement of agreement with

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2006). Adult education. In J. E. Birren (Ed.), Encyclopedia of gerontology (2nd

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2004). Differenzielle Psychologie des Alterns [Differential psychology of ageing].

Schmitt, E. (2004). Altersbild – Begriff, Befunde und politische Implikationen [Age stereotypes – concept,

Schmitt, E. (2004). Aktives Altern, Leistungseinbußen, soziale Ungleichheit und Altersbilder: Ein Beitrag

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2002). Entwicklung der Persönlichkeit im Lebenslauf – die Analyse von

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2001). Adult education and training: Cognitive aspects. In N. J. Smelser & P. B.

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2001). Psychology of death and dying. In N. J. Smelser & P. B. Baltes (Eds.),

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2001). Psychology of education in old age. In N. J. Smelser & P. B. Baltes (Eds.),

Schmitt, E. (2001). Zur Bedeutung von Erwerbstätigkeit und Arbeitslosigkeit im mittleren und höheren

Schmitt, E., & Zimprich, D. (2001). Altersstereotype in ländlichen versus städtischen Regionen in

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2000). Wir haben uns als Deutsche gefühlt [We felt like Germans]. Darmstadt:

Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (1999). Reminiscence of traumatic experiences in (former) Jewish emigrants and

Schmitt, E., Kruse, A., & Re, S. (1999). Auseinandersetzung mit belastenden Erinnerungen bei

Schmitt, E., & Kruse, A. (1998). Die Gegenwart des Holocaust im Erleben zurückgekehrter jüdischer