Week One Flashcards
What is the aging mind
Refers to changes in cognitive structures and processes over time
What happens to the number of brain neurosn
Decrease with age
What are the different factors that affect aging mind
Biological
Anthropological and cultural
Environmental
Psychological
What is it impossible to do
Isolate a single cause of mental disability in old age
Who created the disengagment theory
Elaine cumming
What is the disengagement theory
That as people age they withdraw or become socially disengaged from soceity, resulting in limited social interactions
Society also withdraws from older people making it mutal
What does the disengagment theory do
Freees older adults from social responsibility, reduces stress and free up time for more self-reflection
What are critique of disengagment theory
Criticized for being ageist as it justfies a social exclusion of older adults
Justifies social isolation/loneliness, a risk factor for poor psychoscoial health
Does not account for differences in sociocultural settings (non western societies where older adults play more active roles)
What is activity theory formulated by
Gerontologist Robert Havighurst (1961)
What was activity theory framed as orginally
Response to disengagment theory
What is activity theory
States that older people who are socially active and engaged are more satisfied with life than those who are not socially active suggest that older people are capable of maintaing the same similar levels of social activies as they did in younger ages
How could they apply activity theory
Transtion from active employment to voulnteering
What is the critique of actvity
Fails to consider the participation in social actives can be limited due to disability finances and access to social networks
What is the continuity theory of aging
States that people tend to maintain the same core values principles and intrests as they transition from young to old age past experiences are criticla to adaptation in older age
What is internal continuity
PErsonal believes ideologies temperament dispostions character relies on memory
What is external continutity
Physical and social environment societal norms group membership social roles
What is a critique of contiuinty theory of aging
Applicable only in the context of normal aging
No serious physical or mental disease
Acess to resources
Acess to social netowrks
What is gerotranscendence fromulated by
Swedish sociologist Lars Tornstam 1989
What is the theory of gerotranscendence
Presents a positive view of aging , characterized by increased wisdom and life satisfaction
Suggests that as people age, their view of life changes from materialistc vision to a cosmic/transcendent vision
What are the three leveles of change
Cosmic level - change in perception of time (shrinks), space and objects less fear of death
Self- decreased self centerdness and ego: more altruism
Social relations - prefrence for solicitude and self reflection over superfical relationships decreased intrest in material things
What is the critique of gerotranscendence
Not necessarily old-age related. Individuals hardened by life crises can experience gerotranscendence regarldess of age
Doubts about generalizability/universality material wealth are more important in western cultures than non-western cultures
Whos formulates the theory of psychosical development
Erikson 1950
What is psychoscial development
Focuses on personality development throughout the lifespan: from birth to old age
What is the final stage is psychosocial devlopment
People search for meaning of life and evaluate accomplishments
Satisfaction leads to integrity
Dissatisfaction leads to despair
Intergity vs despair
What are the critique of erikson theory
Erikson vision that intergiry is the ultimate life goal is questionable in light of individual differneces in intellctual abillities
8 are intertiwned rather than a clear delineation
Why is theory important
Helps to understand the behaviours of older adults in clinical care settings
Can guide gerontological research especially in data interpretation
