Understanding the Social Aspects of Aging Flashcards
Aging as a Social Construct
Social theories on aging examine the relationship between the individual experiences and social institutions
All limited in understanding
Sociological Theories
Roles and social habits
Changes in social relationships
Norms and circumstances of the time they were conceived
Optimal ways for older adults to relate to their environment
What determines successful aging?
Changing Social Context
Older individuals can affect and be affected by changing social conditions (i.e. differences between mother/grandmother)
Social Theories on Aging
(before 1961) 1. Role 2. Activity 3. Modernization (60s-70s) 4. Disengagement 5. Continuity (80s) 6. Symbolic Interaction 7. Age Stratification 8. Social Exchange (90s-present) 9. Social Constructionists 10. Political economy of age 11. Social Justice
Role Theory
Our roles define who we are, determine our self concept, and affect our behavior
Roles become more vague with aging, decrease in self-concept
Roles change with lifespan and successful aging depends on how well we accept changing roles
Every society conveys age norms
Criticisms:
great variation in terms of how older persons manage their aging experience
you continue to grow, find meaning, learn, and participate as you age
Disengagement Theory
Because of inevitable declines with age, people become decreasingly involved with outer world and become more interior in anticipation of death
Transition of power from old to young, withdrawal from social roles
Must deal with role losses and dependence-independence spectrum
Older adults withdraw from activity, disengage emotionally
Mutual withdrawal between aging person, others, and society; aging individual accepts/desires decreased interaction
Process that happens gradually
Adaptive behavior because of decreased activity, more passive roles, less interaction, preoccupied with inner lives
Assumptions:
inevitable decline with age leads to less activity, less useful for society
Criticism:
Doesn’t explain variation, creativity, and types of activity that elderly experience during aging
Doesn’t address severe distress experienced y elderly forced to withdraw from social contact
Activity Theory
Because of the value society places on activity, work is needed to counteract view that older individuals are passive and dependent
Successful aging is the opposite of disengagement
Self-worth is defined by doing
Actively engaged older person have greater life satisfaction
Promotes successful social adjustment; previous roles replaced with new ones to remain active
Activity is meaningful based on the values and cultural background of the person; context is also meaningful
Increases satisfaction, self-esteem, pragmatic, and altruistic goal met
Disengagement comes from different sources: voluntary/involuntary, reversible/irreversible
Criticism:
assumes individuals have great deal of control over social situation
Expectation that activities can substitute that of work, marriage, and parenting
Continuity Theory
Central personality traits become more pronounced with age or they are retained without many changes
Successful aging to occur if preferred roles and methods of adapting to life’s changes are maintained
Each stage of life builds on a previous one; Past history counts (personality, attitudes, behaviors)
Own standard for successful aging
Attempt to continue with important activities or variations of them
Social Exchange Theory
Individual status is defined by the balance between contributions that people make to society and the costs to support them
Contributions impacted by age, gender, social class, education, occupation, and ethnicity
Value of individual is diminished as we age; retirement can reduce self-worth
Society views person as incompetent and feeble
Becomes exempt from personal responsibility, may become dependent
Political Economy of Age
Social class and the economic infrastructure determine access to resources
Dominant group in society tried to hold their position; Lack of social infrastructure support for the elderly of lower socioeconomic status; Broad economic divisions
Forced into dependency/institutional care
Social Constructionists
Each one of us construct our own social experience and reality
Reality of aging subject to change in definition depending on who is doing the defining
How you live/plan your life
Social Justice Theory
Aging requires a pragmatic explanation of how older people are identified within a social category
Types of supports elderly are entitled to by virtue of their contribution related sacrifices/responsibilities made on behalf of society
Argues that the process of modernization cost the elderly as a social category and that programs developed to return their status to them are based on social justice theory
Focus on the contribution that the elderly have made to society over a lifetime; different levels of need/support based on social category
