PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF AGING:
The basic premise of the psychological theories of aging is that development is a lifelong process and does not reach the end point, it occurs over the life span. There is a constant change in; life roles, abilities, perspectives, and belief systems. Some psychological and psychosocial changes include memory, learning capacity, feelings, intellectual functioning, and motivations. (Birren, Cunningham, 1985). The question now arises is that whether, psychological theories of ageing are used to explain as a coping strategies associated with ageing or their relation with biological ageing.
Both the reasons are valid though; explaining the psychological adaptive mechanisms of ageing. Therefore these theories majorly
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There is a decline in physiological as well as behavioral functionality. (Baltes and Smith 1999).
These theories can be classified into based on the causal influence it has on proximal or distal factors.
Distal theories:
These theories are based on the events which occurred earlier in life. Cumulative effects are seen as obsolescence in elderly. These theories signify that passage of time is not a factor for the difference seen in elderly.
Proximal theories of aging:
These theories determine; factors influencing ageing, which are ultimately determining the age related differences. There is no description of the origin of these differences. Modifications of these theories include efficiency of information processing stages; strategy based differences or altered cognitive performance.
( Salthouse 1999).
I. Theories of Cognition:
a. Classical ageing pattern:
Fluid intelligence declines with age (performance in timed task, reasoning) but crystallized intelligence (Knowledge and skills) is equally well or better in older counterparts. Although older adults perform well in complex tasks, there is a decline seen in information processing
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Human motivation can be visualized as hierarchy of needs which are determining factor of growth and development. Every individual has innate intimacy to strive for self-actualization. There is a hierarchy of need, in order of priorities. Each level is achieved one after another, continuous up to the final level of achievement. Any self-actualized person has following traits; perception of reality; acceptance of self, others, and nature; spontaneity; problem-solving ability; self-direction; detachment and the desire for privacy; freshness of peak experiences; identification with other human beings; satisfying and changing relationships with other people; a democratic character structure; creativity; and a sense of values (Maslow,1968). In context of ageing individual constantly drives for
Describe how these theories differ in regard to the ever-reversing role of general intellectual ability factor (g).
...nescence is result of a combination of the antagonist pleiotropy theory, mutation accumulation theory and disposable soma theory. The three evolutionary theories claim that natural selection is weak and ineffective in sustaining reproduction, growth, survival and somatic repair during the post-reproductive years causing genetic diseases in older individuals compared to younger individuals. As biological processes shut down, older individuals develop a weak immune system that can no longer fight the deleterious genes and mutations leading to death. Moreover, the evolutionary theories paved way for new research in gerontology that led to the development of new genetic theories of aging. The definite cause of genetic diseases in older individuals is yet to be determined, but all theories suggest that senescence is an inevitable process that all organisms experience.
An individual’s personality and character structure portrays a major reflection of how they age. Personality style and character structure both incorporate the conscious and unconscious motivational, cognitive and affective mental states, as well as defense mechanisms (Silver 1992). Biopsychosocial factors-broken down into biological, psychological, and sociocultural-also play a huge role in personality and aging (Notes 10/08). Some examples of biological factors are health, genetics, and physiological function. Thoughts, feelings, and emotions would be considered psychological factors. Sociocultural factors include family, religion and community. Additionally, people endure unique experiences and circumstances throughout their life course,
For my reflection paper I chose to write about chapter 9 that talks about lifespan development. This chapter grabbed my attention and I found it most interesting. In the textbookit discusses how there are certain factors that uncontrollably make us who we are. Those factorsare "unique combination of genes you inherited from your biological mother and father. Another is the historical era during which you grew up. Your individual development has also been shaped by the cultural, social, and family contexts within which you were raised." (Pg.352) The patterns of our lives are because of developmental psychology. "Developmental psychology is a scientific approach which aims to explain growth, change and consistency though the lifespan. Developmental
One of the most notorious observations was that not all people age the same way, and that chronological ...
An interview was arranged with an older adult to discuss issues related to aging. The interview was designed to gain appreciation and understanding of an older adult. One theory of aging came into mind when I thought about this topic. Erik Erikson Life-Course and Personality Development theory, “Erikson described the task of old age as balancing the search for integrity and wholeness with a sense of despair.” NS is the older adult that I conducted the interview with. I’ve decided to pick NS to interview because she is very positive about life and her age. Everything that I have come across about aging is negative such as depression, isolation, and illness.
Aging occurs in every species. Over time a change occurs on a cellular level in a person’s body, which causes degenerative effects on the brain, muscles, organs, bones, hormones, and DNA. In 1991, the book Evolutionary Biology of Aging, offered the following definition of aging: a persistent decline in the age-specific fitness components of an organism due to internal physiological deterioration.1 Aging affects the body physically and mentally. Many people dread getting older due to the numerous changes the body goes through. The geriatric population experiences many pains and is inflicted with various diseases. There are a few who are lucky enough to not get diagnosed with a life altering disease, such as Alzheimer’s, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, or some form of cancer. Studies have shown that genetics play a vital role in the aging process.
There are a number of benefits to be found from thinking about ageing as a lifelong process and not just one that affects older people. This essay will define some of these benefits whilst backing up this reasoning with reference to the K118 material. It will then explain briefly which experiences I have had personally which have led me to responding to the question in this manner.
Aging and old age for a long time presented as dominated by negative traits and states such as sickness, depression and isolation. The aging process is not simply senescence most people over the age of 65 are not Senile, bedridden, isolated, or suicidal (Aldwin & Levenson, 1994). This change in perspective led the investigation of the other side of the coin. Ageing is seen as health, maturity and personal Royal growth, self-acceptance, happiness, generatively, coping and acceptance of age-related constraints (Birren & Fisher, 1995). Psychological und...
Horn, J. L., & Cattell, R. B. (1967). ‘Age differences in fluid and crystallized intelligence’. Acta Psychological, 26, 107-129.
Some critics have argued that disengagement theory may have accurately characterized the behavior of the older population in the 1950s, but that it was a mistake to infer that this pattern was universal. According to these critics, activity theory or continuity theory might well be a better description of how older people actually live today. If the critics’ view is correct, does it mean that any theories of aging simply express the way aging appears at a certain time in history? If so, how would it be possible to develop an account that is more general and not limited to a certain time and place?
In an attempt to define ageing one must take in consideration the biophysiological together with the psychosocial aspects; these two aspects are intertwined.
Ageing is a continuing life cycle, it is an ongoing developmental event that brings certain changes in one’s own psychological and physical state. It is a time in one's own life where an elderly individual reminisce and reflect, to bask and live on previous accomplishments and begin to finish his life cycle. There is a significant amount of adjusting that requires an elderly individual to be flexible and develop new coping skills to adapt in the changes that are common in their new life. (Dhara & Jogsan, 2013).
Late adulthood should be a time in a person's life where they feel fulfilled. They can look back on their memories and be happy with the way they have lived their life. Now, too many elderly people are not satisfied and look at this stage as depressing. Most fear death of either a loved one or for themselves. This topic is interesting to me because elderly people should make the best of their last stage of life. This topic discusses about getting older, the life changes that they go through physically, emotionally, and mentally. We should know more about it so that we can help our family and friends get through one of the best, yet toughest part of our mortal life.
Aging and being old was dominated by negative characteristics and conditions such as illness, depression, and isolation for a long time (Eibach, Mock, & Courtney, 2010). At first glance the terms “success” and “aging” seem to be in conflict to each other. When asking people about aging, their answers have many facets that are also found in psychological definitions: successful aging is seen as health, maturity and personal growth, self-acceptance, happiness, generativity, coping, and acceptance of age-related limitations. In the psychological sense successful aging is also often seen as the absence of age-associated characteristics (Strawbridge, Wallhagen, & Cohen, 2002). It seems that successful aging means is not aging.