Lecture 12: Social Aspects of Later Life

Question 1

SOC model

Answer 1

• compensation for losses becomes more important with aging
• pursue only the most important goals
• exercise crucial abilities by added training
• pracice more, etc.

Question 2

Components of succesful aging

Answer 2

• social involvement
• sufficient physical and mental health
• prodctive engagement in life

Question 3

Lawton’s Competence-Environmental Press Model

two components

Answer 3

• Competence
• Environmental press
  (both aspects have to be in balance)

Question 4

Competence (in Lawton’s model)

Answer 4

• upper limit of a person’s ability function in these daomain chnages with age
• physicial, sensory-perceptual skills, motor skills, cognitive skills and ego strength

Question 5

Environemntal press (Lawton’s model)

Answer 5

Physical, interpersonal, or social demands that environments put on poeple also change with age

Question 6

Zone or maximal comfort

Answer 6

• more competence than press

we are calm, can relay on our competence

Question 7

Zone of maximum performance potential

Answer 7

a bit more pressure than we have competence

we have to improve

Question 8

Marginal (zone)

Answer 8

• overlap with negative effect

- when environemntal press is too high or the competence is too high (we need balance!)

Question 9

Model Practivity

Answer 9

• When people choose new behaviors to meet new desires or needs and exert control over their lives

Question 10

Dolicity

Answer 10

When people allow the situation to dictate the options they have

Question 11

Why do poeple retire?

Answer 11

• are in poor health
• lose their jobs
• are financially secure
• can fulfill personal goals better through retirement

Question 12

How do poeple adjust to retirement?

Answer 12

• voluntary retirement seems to have no negative effect on health
• being forced to retire is correlated with poorer physical and mental health

Question 13

The social Convoy throughout life

Answer 13

• is made up of friends and relatives
• women tend to have more friends
• friends may become more important in old age?

Question 14

Becoming a great-grand parent can mean…

Answer 14

1. A personal renewal and a renewal of the family:
   - Psychological support through symbolic immortality
2. Diversion: New individuals to share experiences with
3. Pride of having passed a milestone of longevity that most people never achieve