Exam 3 ch 15

Disengagement theory problem

A critical problem with this theory was that it assumes that older people are no longer capable of adequately performing their previous roles. However, older people in many societies continue to perform their previous roles quite well.

Theories against Disengagement theory

Two other major theories of aging have since been proposed to address some of these factors: the activity theory(1961) and the continuity theory (1968).

Social support

can improve the physical and mental health of older adults.

Ageism

prejudice against others because of their age, especially prejudice against older adults. Often inhumane but real perceptions of the older adult exist in our youth-oriented society, and unfortunately, these attitudes may be held by their adult children.

Harriette Thompson

she became the oldest woman known to have finished a marathon. She did so while wearing white tights to cover the open wound son her legs from radiation treatments for squamous cell carcinoma. Over the last seven years she had also dealt with a recurrence of oral cancer, which first struck her in 1986. a classical pianist and cancer survivor who started to run marathons when she was 76 and ran the fastest time in a marathon for a woman over 90, died on Monday in Charlotte, N.C. She was 94.

Disengagement theory explained

This approach assumed that all societies must find ways for older people's authority to give way to younger people. A society thus encourages its elderly to disengage from their previous roles and to take on roles more appropriate to their physical and mental decline.

socioemotional selectivity theory

as adults become older, they are increasingly more selective about social networks and seek greater emotional quality in relationships with friends and family.

Differences in Disengagement theory and Activity theory

Disengagement theory assumes that all societies must find ways for older people's authority to give way to younger people. A society thus encourages its elderly to disengage from their previous roles and to take on roles more appropriate to their physical and mental decline. ●Activity theory assumes that older people will benefit both themselves and their society if they remain active and try to continue to perform the roles they had before they aged.

criticism of Activity Theory

One criticism of activity theory is that it overestimates the ability of the elderly to maintain their level of activity: Although some elders can remain active, others cannot. Another criticism is that activity theory is too much of an individualistic approach, as it overlooks the barriers many societies place to successful aging.

What is successful aging?

Owning one's own home & living there as long as possible, good health,good death - social and cognitive aspects thought to be more important than physical health

Positives of Activity theory

assumes that older people benefit both themselves and their society if they remain active and try to continue to perform the roles they had before they aged (Choi & Kim, 2011). As they perform their roles, their perception of the situations they are in is crucial to their perception of their aging and thus to their self-esteem and other aspects of their psychological well-being.

Explanation of Ageism

in conflict theory put these conditions at the forefront of their analyses. A conflict theory of aging, then, emphasizes the impact of ageism, or negative views about old age and prejudice and discrimination against the elderly (Novak, 2012). According to this view,older workers are devalued because they are no longer economically productive and because their higher salaries (because of their job seniority), health benefits, and other costs drive down capitalist profits. Conflict theory also emphasizes inequality among the aged along gender, race/ethnicity, and social class lines.

social convey model of social relations

individuals go through life embedded in a personal network of individuals from whom they give and receive social support. Circles are used to separate people in terms of the closeness of their relationship with an individual. it can be used by healthcare professionals to assess the effects of social isolation on a patient's health. • The social convey model of social relations is where individuals go through life embedded in a personal network of social support.

The convoy measure

involves placing close and important individuals into three concentric circles representing three levels of closeness:close, closer, closest.

Criticism of Ageism

it blames ageism on modern, capitalist economies. However,negative views of the elderly also exist to some extent in modern, socialist societies and in preindustrial societies. Capitalism may make these views more negative, but such views can exist even in societies that are not capitalistic

• Activity theory

states that the more active and involved older adults are, the more likely they will be satisfied with their lives. It is suggested that for greater life satisfaction, older adults should continue their middle adulthood roles or find substitutes when it is not possible to do so.

• Disengagement theory

states that, to cope effectively/be successful in terms of the aging process, olderadults should gradually withdraw from society - socially and psychologically - and this withdrawal is internaland inevitable. This was the prevailing belief in the first half of the 20th century.