PSYC228_Chap16 Flashcards
what age group start doing lots of reflecting on events that shaped them?
eldery/old age
what ifs + should haves + i dids
Erikson’s final stage of development
late adulthood
did I lead a meaningful life?
late adulthood erikson psychosocial crisis:
ego integrity vs despair
ego integrity
state of integration of ego that has evolved over lifetime
having integrity = lived life full of complex social relationships + clear personal indentity + intimacy
=person who is generally content with how life as unfolded
accepts life along iwth choices + social connections they’ve made
accrued assurace of the ability to find order, meaning + integration in one’s life
despair
what happens when 60-70s people aren’t able to integrate life + tell life story that conveys meaning + fulfillment
results from both lack of reflection + unfulfilled social interactions
= life full of regrets
complicated iwth fear of uncertain future + inevitability of death
conflicted perception that life is full of misery + hard times + ends too quick
typically bitter + blames societal institutions for creating life’s problems, bitterness toward society may reduce anger at oneself for wasting life
= feeling that on’es life lacks meaning + significance
why do older people recall memories + share them?
to revive + reinterpret + reintegrate them
glimpse of life review
life review
ongoing process of surveying, observing + summarizing themes that characterize one’s life in retrospect
process of telling one’s life story structured arnd themes that make meaning of one’s life
butler - universal + normal process of aging
geropsychologists use as therapeutic technique to inc self-understanding to dec depression + help older adults cope with feelings of loss, guilt, conflict, or defeat
in late adulthood personality stability is the
strongest for big five personalities traits compared wiht others
which older adults are more likely to be highly engaged in social roles + have increases in conscientiousness?
those with higher levels of agreeableness + conscientiousness
life narratives
an invidid’s life story that reflects a sense or lack of unity, purpose + meaning
life stories that invovled images, plots, characters + themes
they are shaped by and set in socio-cultural context in which individ ages
glorify good + vilify bad - differs by culture
when older adults evaluate the lives they liveed according to their culture’s rotion of what it means to have lived a successful life
basic assupmtion of the activity theory of aging
social interaction + physical activity are indications of successful aging
havighurst - believed for successful aging to occur, specific age-approriate tasks should be accomplished thruout the lifespan (leaning to read + understand math, marriage + raising family etc)
suggests that physical, cognitive + socio-cultural activity in late adulthood leads to successful agin + positive mental health
very old theory
further research beyond activity theory of aging say
individs must perceive activities to be positive + enjoyable for them to be associated iwth personal satisfaction + well-being
others contend that dec in involvement in social activity = normal in older adulthood - not the greatest indicator of unsuccessful aging
disengagement theory
cumming + henry
theory of aging that suggests it’s normal + healthy for older people to disengage from previous roles + focus energy on personal development
reduce involvement with society + society encourages it
allows older adults to carry on wihotu responsibility of societal obligations which are left for younger memebers
selective optimization with compensation SOC
idea that developpment is about gain + loss throughout lifespan
people of all ages have inherent drive to develop + maintain abilities
in older adulthood, have to adpt to unaboidable losses
baltes introduces soc theory in response to activity vs disengagement theories
successful aging = outcome of older adults using soc strategies to conserve resources + deploy skills to optimize thier potential to stay engaged + productive while minimizing loss of ability
useful for understanding older adults patterns of engagement with activities + conseptualizing social relationships iin later adulthood
socio-emotional selectivity theory
model of aging that focuses on diminishing social networks, leanding to positive emotional regulation based on perception that there’s limited time to live
for social relationhips + social networks
older adults become increasingly selective about social relationships - wnat to spend quality time with close persoanl friends + relatives
theory of motivation - aging = associated increasing preference for positive over negative experiences
optimizing investment in emotionally menaingful social relationships at expense of larger social network = healthy + adaptive way to regulate emotions + interact positivley in social situations
interactions betw older + younger generations change bec
both generations are getting older
average age of retirement in Canada
64
task of later adulthood
retirement + adjustment to retirement
how well a person adjusts to retirement is affected by
overall health
income
level of education
social network
level of activity
satisfaction with life before retirement
ability to be flexbile + adjust to life changes
what percent of north americans with career jobs return to work after retiring?
15%
in marriages where one spouse retires while one stays wokring marital stress
is mroe significant
