Social Action Theory on Age Inequality

Question 1

What does Havinghurst observe

Answer 1

That regular social interaction is essential to staying mentally and physically active. However, retirement often means the elderly are forced to disengage form regular interaction with others

Question 2

What does Victor argue

Answer 2

That public attitudes towards the elderly may result in a self-fulfilling prophecy because the elderly may be forced into acting out an ‘elderly’ rile despite the fact that they report they don’t feel any different to when they were younger.

They were choosing how to act according to how society viewed them

Question 3

What does Ray et al argue

Answer 3

That negative stereotypes or labelling about old age can also impact on the way people react to ageing themselves. They may view themselves as ‘useless’ and unable to learn

Question 4

What does Victor argue about the negative labels

Answer 4

That the negative labels about ageing and the ageist discrimination that follows can cause negative age-related changes to worsen, as the older person sees their life as a downward spiral - they see themselves as useless.

Question 5

What does the social action theory neglect

Answer 5

The view that interaction and interpretation rarely exist independently of structural influences