Abstract
The study is based on Three-dimensional theory of wisdom by Monika Ardelt, which is presented in the context of other popular contemporary theories (HEROE model, Berlin wisdom paradigm, Grossmann's wise reasoning). Using Three-dimensional Wisdom Scale administered online, I conducted an empirical study on a convenient sample of Czech adults (N=196) to assess the prevalence of wisdom.
Further, I analysed the effect of sociodemographic variables on wisdom and its components (cognitive, reflective and affective). According to the hard criteria only three respondents (1.53 %) from the sample qualified as wise.
The effect of sociodemographic variables was examined by a linear regression model. From all tested predictors (gender, age, subjective health condition, education) only age (β=-0.008, p=0.041) and health condition (β=0.047, p=0.007) were statistically significant.
Younger and healthier respondents showed higher wisdom scores. The overall explanatory power of the model was weak (R2=0.67).
The effect of gender on overall wisdom was not significant, however, women scored significantly higher in the affective component of wisdom (M=3.41 SD=0.49) compared to men (M=3.19 SD=0.55): t(196)=2.844, p=0.005, d=0.43. The prevalence of wisdom in the Czech sample was low.
Surprisingly, education did not significantly affect wisdom and age did affect wisdom, but in the opposite direction than expected. Gender-based difference in the affective component suggested that wisdom is a multidimensional phenomenon and further research should try to identify different types or domains of wisdom.