Old Age Flashcards

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1
Q

Baltes suggested several definitions of old age

A
Sociological/familial
Biological
Longevity/demographic 
Cognitive
Institutional
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2
Q

Stages of old age

A

Young-old (60-69)
Third-age adults (70-79)
Fourth-age adults (80-89)
Old-old (90+)

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3
Q

Ageism

A

Prejudice/discrimination based on age
Most apparent in old age
Can be externally or internally imposed

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4
Q

Healthy ageing vs age denial in 76+ years (Palmore, 2007)

A
Healthy ageing practices:
Regular exercise (77%)
Dieting for health reasons (30%)
Avoiding tobacco (87%)
Age denial practices:
Anti-ageing medications (1%)
Cosmetic surgery to look younger (2%)
Botox (0%)
Hair colouring to look younger (10%)
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5
Q

Cross-cultural differences (old age)

A

Differences in value systems influence views on ageing and old age
Traditional aboriginal Australian culture promotes social status with increasing age (community elder have highest social status)
Ability (physical and cognitive) is also considered in the advancement towards community elder status (promotes healthy ageing)

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6
Q

Biological ageing

A
GRADUAL decline in functioning of physiological systems
Hair
Skin
Veins and arteries
Muscles
Hormones
Bones
Teeth
Sense organs
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7
Q

Psychological impacts of biological ageing

A

Biological ageing impacts on psychological well-being:
Perceived competency/self-perceived usefulness
Self-esteem
Agency/self-control
Mood/stress

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8
Q

Neurocognitive ageing

A

Gradual decline in brain volume
Increased ventricle size (fluid filled areas/cavities)
Accelerated loss of brain cells
Decreased neural conduction speed (decreasing reaction time)
Neuroplasticity remains

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9
Q

Explaining biological ageing: disease theories

A

Autoimmune theory: body’s own immune system triggers ageing by treating the body’s own cells as disease agents
Genetic-disease theory: particular genes responsible for ageing

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10
Q

Explaining biological ageing: homeostasis

A

Gradual decline in homeostatic control leads to ageing and eventual death
Illness throughout life may reduce the capacity of this system, leading to premature death

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11
Q

Explaining biological ageing: cellular theories

A

Hayflick limit: pre-determined maximum limit on the life-span of a cell

Free-radicals explanation: ageing is cause by cumulative damage cause by free radicals (molecules with single unpaired electrons which attack other molecules to steal electrons)

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12
Q

Explaining biological ageing: environmental insult theories

A

Wear and tear: regular bodily insults from external environment result in ageing

Radiation theory: gradual exposure to radiation throughout life results in ageing. This is accelerated in highly radioactive environments

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13
Q

Cognitive ageing: memory

A

Old age is often associated with memory declines.
However, forgetfulness is reported in a minority of people over 55
Lab based assessment shows gradual decline in memory performance with age:
May be due to decreased motivation
Use of memorisation strategies may explain declines in performance
Overly cautious approaches are adopted by older adults in memorisation tasks
Decreased self-efficacy/confidence

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14
Q

Memory: life review

A

Tendency to talk about, think about the past as a way of making sense of life
Requires conflict resolution through an evaluation of the past
Successful evaluation results in an integration of the life review into the sense of self
Unsuccessful evaluation is no integration of the life review into the sense of self and results in anxiety or depression
Effects of life review are overwhelmingly positive (encouraged as a therapeutic tool)

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15
Q

Successful cognitive ageing

A

Losses in multiple biological systems impact on functioning
Baltes argues that cognitive adaptation can limit these losses in function:
‘Selective optimisation with compensation’
Increased selectivity in the number of ‘high-efficiency domains’
Account for losses in reserve capacity through the development of compensatory mechanisms/strategies

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16
Q

What is old age?

A

65+ years of age

No clear chronological boundary, is considered a subjective state of mind

17
Q

Successful social ageing

A

Successful ageing involves continued psychological growth and development
Being socially responsible and interested in others is important for ‘successful’ ageing (involves being compassionate, caring and responsive to others)
Capacity to accept change is also vital (too much of this may result in apathy, resignation, learned helplessness)

18
Q

Disengagement theory

A

First proposed by Cumming and Henry (1961)
Healthy old age involves deliberately cutting off from other people, social roles and active concern for other
Controversial theory

19
Q

Disengagement theory: three central defining components

A
  1. Disengagement is normative (do disengage)
  2. Disengagement is mutually desirable by old people and by society (want to disengage)
  3. Disengagement produces changes in thought patterns (need to disengage)
20
Q
  1. Disengagement is normative (do disengage)
A

Old people voluntarily disengage from active social roles, severing emotional ties and moving out of career and leisure roles

21
Q
  1. Disengagement is mutually desirable by old people and by society (want to disengage)
A

Disengagement is internal to the old person as part of normal and natural process of social ageing.

22
Q
  1. Disengagement produces changes in thought patterns (need to disengage)
A

Individual’s inner dynamics, cognitions, emotions, and social thought patterns undergo changes.
As older people take less interest in social activities, their social skills diminish through disuse.

23
Q

Critiquing disengagement theory

A

The process described by disengagement theory may not be restricted to effects of ageing
Same process of disengagement is seen in terminally ill patients and unemployed people
Criticised for condoning discrimination based on age (ageism)
Limited evidence of cross-cultural applicability

24
Q

Activity theory

A

Continued socialisation, role commitment and involvement with people is important for successful ageing
If one role is lost, it requires replacement (new role should be equally socially demanding)
Social disengagement is an adverse response to ageism and social exclusion

25
Q

Activity vs disengagement

A

Both assume that there is an ideal pattern of ageing

Do old people disengage? Should they?

26
Q

Do people disengage?

A

Complete disengagement is uncommon
No consistent evidence of social disengagement. But nature of social interactions change (eg church, community service, group recreational activity)

27
Q

Should old people disengage?

A

Disengagement results in decreased satisfaction with life

28
Q

Personality continuity theory

A

Compromise between disengagement and activity theories
Individual differences in confronting old age reflect individual differences when facing challenges earlier in life
(Individual personality variation determines pattern of disengagement be activity)

29
Q

Optimal social ageing

A
Both activity theory and disengagement theory are correct 
Integrated adults
Armoured-defended adults
Passive-dependent adults 
Disorganised adults
30
Q

Integrated adults

A

Demonstrate high levels of satisfaction

Included those who were highly socially active and those who were almost completely disengaged

31
Q

Armoured-defended adults

A

High activity but in a state of denial with no realistic planning

32
Q

Passive-dependent adults

A

Poor adjustment with a heavy reliance on others

33
Q

Disorganised adults

A

Poorest adjustment with mental and emotional disturbance

34
Q

Socioemotional selectivity theory

A

A shrinking future results in the prioritising of particular relationships:
‘Social pruning’
Results in a changing social network, consisting of narrower but deeper connections
Inspired to Baltes’ S-O-C theory:
E.g. Become more selective in relationships

35
Q

Personality and adjustment in old age

A

Self-concept and feelings of personal control influence successful ageing
Subjective age self-concept influences rate of physical decline in old age:
Those who don’t mind getting old have best physical outcomes in old age
Ageism impacts on self-concept
Sense of personal control:
Perceived ability to influence the external world
Perceived personal control predicts longevity

36
Q

Integrity crisis

A

Erikson’s final dialectical conflict: integrity vs despair
The need to attack meaning to our own lives
Conflict between a desire to believe that earlier life choice were right vs a sense of despair over mistakes or missed opportunities
A sense of integrity or life meaning is the goal of this dialectical conflict:
Life review may facilitate resolution
Ageism makes successful resolution difficult