Rate My Professor Masami Takahashi

Masami Takahashi serves as a Professor in the Psychology Department at Northeastern Illinois University, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Temple University, completed in Spring 1999; an M.S. in Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in Summer 1990; and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in Spring 1988. At NEIU, Takahashi's research specializes in the definition, operationalization, and evaluation of psychological strengths evident in late adulthood, such as wisdom, spirituality, and religiosity. He explores potential factors contributing to longevity observed in the Blue Zones. Furthermore, his work examines the psychosocial profile of former kamikaze pilots, drawing implications for understanding motivations in other suicide missions worldwide.

Takahashi's scholarly output is substantial. He edited the book The Empirical Study of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality in Japan (2020, Elm Grove, San Antonio, TX). Key book chapters authored by him include "Relational Wisdom and Happiness in Late Adulthood" in Advancing Developmental Science: Philosophy, Theory, and Method (2017, Routledge, New York), and "Relationship between Wisdom and Spirituality: An Expanded Theoretical Model with Mysticism and Gerotranscendence" in The Handbook of Wisdom (2019, Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 626-646). A forthcoming publication, co-authored with H. Kato, is "Psychology of Religion in Japan" in the Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Religion. Peer-reviewed articles include "Development of Relational Wisdom and Happiness in Late Adulthood" (2017), "Relationship between Wisdom and Spirituality" (2019), "End-of-Life Activities Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan" with Miho Tanaka and Daisuke Kawashima (2021), and "The Organization of Psychological Assessment Instruments for Religiosity and Spirituality: Relevant Subject Headings in the APA PsycTests Database" co-authored with Edward Remus (2023, Japanese Journal for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality). Additionally, Takahashi produced and directed the documentary Last Kamikaze: Testimonials from the WWII Suicide Pilots (2007). In July 2024, Northeastern Illinois University recognized his contributions by awarding him tenure and promotion to associate professor, highlighting his recent publication.