Social Theories

Question 1

What is the purpose of social theories

Answer 1

attempt to explain why and how an age-associated social changes occur.

Question 2

A theory that states that as people age they start losing roles as active parents, employees, and spouses.

Answer 2

Role theory

Question 3

What is Disengagement theory

Answer 3

– proposes that because of inevitable declines with age, it is natural for older adults to become less active/engaged with the world
not empirically supported

Question 4

Activity theory

Answer 4

successful aging occurs when older adults stay active and maintain social interactions.
Reflects societal value placed on “productivity”; the “busy ethic”.

Question 5

What are some limitations of Activity theory?
Overlooks…
1
2

Answer 5

• overlooks inequalities in health and economics that hinder the ability for older people to engage in such activities.
• Also overlooks personality differences – not all older adults desire to engage in new challenges

Question 6

Continuity theory

Answer 6

• successful aging involves maintaining one’s preferred roles and behaviours (active or not) and adaptation techniques throughout life.
• personal interests are maintained but adapted for age appropriate mobility and capability

Question 7

Age stratification theory suggest the _______ ____ structure affects the experience of aging. Cohorts intern influence _____ of ____ ________.

Answer 7

The SOCIETAL AGE structure - or cohorts and the historical time period - affects the experience of aging; cohorts in turn influence PATTERNS of AGE STRATIFICATION

Question 8

Social exchange theory suggest that ________ and _______ ________ result from an ______ _______ process of “investment and returns” between _____ persons and ….

Answer 8

suggest that withdrawal and social isolation result from an unequal exchange process of “investment and returns” between older persons and other members of society.
reciprocal exchange

Question 9

Life-course perspective

Answer 9

attempts to bridge structural or societal level and individual psychological level factors that affect human development. more recent. aging is not general it is individual

Question 10

Political economy theory of aging

Answer 10

social class determines a person’s access to resources 
- maintain the power structure. rich control resource distribution

Question 11

Social phenomenology/social constructionism

Answer 11

what it means to be “young” or “old” is socially constructed
-considers the assumptions and meanings of experience rather than the “objective” facts, with a focus on understanding rather than explaining.

Question 12

Feminist gerontology

Answer 12

gerontology is the view that the experiences of women are often ignored in understanding the human condition, with efforts to attend critically to those experiences

Question 13

Is chronological age a good predictor of social, physical and cognitive ability?

Answer 13

no it is a poor predictor. however it is commonly used to make negative assumptions about someone based on their chronological age.