Week 1

Question 1

Define Successful Aging

Answer 1

“Successful aging” refers to the concept of aging in a way that maximizes quality of life, well-being, and independence as people grow older.

Question 2

What are some key ideas related to “Successful Aging”?

Answer 2

• Life satisfaction
• Longevity
• Freedom from disability
• Mastery and Growth
• Active Engagement with Life
• Independence

Question 3

What are the other names for “successful aging”?

Answer 3

• Vital Aging
• Active Aging
• Productive Aging

Question 4

Define Robert Havinghurt’s Activity Theory

Answer 4

A concept in the field of gerontology that suggests that successful aging occurs when older adults remain active and engaged in their social, physical, and mental activities. According to this theory, maintaining an active lifestyle—continuing the roles, activities, and interactions one had during younger years—leads to greater life satisfaction, happiness, and a better sense of well-being as people age.

Question 5

What are the key points of Activity Theory

Answer 5

• Social Engagement : Stay socially active with family, friends, and community
• Continuity: Continuity doing what interests you
• Positive Attitude: Keep a positive attitude towards aging

Question 6

Describe Cumming & Henry’s Disengagement Theory

Answer 6

It posits that aging involves a gradual withdrawal or disengagement from social roles, activities, and relationships. According to the theory, this process of disengagement is both natural and inevitable as individuals age, and it serves both the individual and society by facilitating an orderly transition from older to younger generations.

The theory suggests that a person successfully aging would want, over time, to disengage from an active life

Question 7

What are the key points of the Disengagement Theory?

Answer 7

** Mutual Withdrawal: **People naturally withdraw from their involvement in societal roles. The society withdraws expectations from the elderly to be active in these roles.
** Psychological and Emotional Preparation: **Disengagement is seen as a way for individuals to prepare emotionally and psychologically for death.
* Benefits to Society: By stepping back elderly make room for younger generations to assume societal responsibilities. This is seen as a means of ensuring societal stability and continuity.
** Natural and Inevitable: ** : Disengagement is a universal and inevitable process, not a result of poor health or external factors, but a part of the natural life cycle.

Question 8

Define the 87 Old Men Study

Answer 8

Reichard, Livson and Petersen studied 87 old men over time to understand the diverse ways in which older men adapt to the aging process.

Question 9

Define Erikson’s successful aging concept

Answer 9

Erikson’s 8 stages of life covers infancy to old age. 7th and 8th stages cover adulthood and old age. 7th stage is termed generativity vs stagnation: Successful master of work life, creative activity, and raising a family. Based on Erikson’s view, the succesful resolution of challenges posed by each stage is a requisite for succesful mastery of the next. In this case, successful mastery of the 7th stage is essential to master the 8th, integrity vs despair. Ego integrity is achieved through evaluation of one’s life as having been a fulling and satisfying one.

Question 10

What are some criticism against Erikson’s criteria of successful aging?

Answer 10

• They’re subjective and phenomenological.
• If the individual sees their life a a failure or as unproductive, they would develop “ego despair”, which can cause depression, anger, self blaming or blaming others.
• Erikson doesn’t offer any discussion of objective measures of physical health or of a diagnostic psychiatric disorder.