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Primary Sociological Theories Of Aging

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THEORIES OF AGING: enquiring into the evolution and theory of aging aims to explain why almost all living things weaken and die with age. Many theories have been proposed to explain the process of aging but none of them appears to be fully satisfactory. The psychodynamic theory of Erikson (1997) is a theory of human birth to maturation and old age, which includes the process of aging gradually and examines how it affects the psychological and social development of an individual. Erikson describes the task of aging as balancing the search for integrity and wholeness with a sense of despair. [7] psychosocial theories of aging attempts to explain human development and aging in terms of individual changes in cognitive functions, behaviors roles, …show more content…

In some respects, sociological theories relate to various social adaptations in the lives of older adults. There are three primary sociological theories of aging: . 1. Dis-engagement Theory: The disengagement theory of aging claims that it is natural and acceptable for older adults to withdraw from society and personal relationships as they age. Disengagement theory was the first theory of aging developed by social scientists. 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 make on roles more appropriate to their physical and mental decline. [12] Because this theory assumes that social aging preserves a society’s stability and that a society needs to ensures that disengagement occurs, its often considered as functionalist explanation of aging process. A critical problem with this theory was that it assumed that older people are no longer capable of carrying out their previous roles adequately. This theory reduces social interaction of older citizens. 2. Activity …show more content…

The successful resolution of conflict lead to a virtue in each stage of life. Erikson’s last psychosocial crisis integrity-versus-despair in concerned with the way a person faces the end of life. Old age is a time of reflection, of looking back on the events of life time. If older person reflects past events of his life as a series of missed opportunities and failures, the final years will be of despair and regret but if he leads a satisfactory life the virtue of integrity develops in him and he leads a satisfactory older life. [16] 2. Social Clock Work Theory: The social psychologist Bernice Neugarten (1987), was one of the first to research and teach adult development. She proposed “The Social Clock Theory” in which there are age-graded expectations for life events. Being on-time or off-time from these major life events, such as beginning a first job, getting married, or retiring, can profoundly affect self-esteem. Neugarten suggested that all societies have a social clock, a conscious or unconscious consensus that dictates when events should occur. If the events do not happen in this time frame, people feel stress for not living up to their family's or society's expectations. They judge themselves harshly when they see others achieving these milestones on

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The author discusses the change old individual face, which is similar to the theory of Eric Erikson. The authors say that by time immortality does not matter which can be interpreted as being ready to die. The books territory is not just old people, ageing or ageism. The book also talks about some of the most disturbing conflicts of human nature, the need for differentiation as against equality, the recognition of the evil forces in our nature and her insights are challenging and illuminating. The vision that emerges from her accumulated experience of life makes this a remarkable document that speaks to all

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Theory: Disengagement Theory

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The continuity, disengagement, and activity theory can be compared to one another. They can also be assessed individually to understand the pros and cons. The activity and continuity theory can be compared to one another as they both are established on the idea that the more active you are as you get older, the happier you will be. The disengagement theory is the complete opposite as it states that as you get older both the society and its people engage in a mutual separation.

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D2 critically compare the value of ageing theories to individuals in differing health or social care settings In this assignment i will be comparing two ageing theories in 3 different health and social care settings. I will look at the advantages and disadvantages as well as the strategies put in place within these settings. Activity theory Social disengagement Care Home Residents tend to form close relations with their staff as well as getting all the residents to socialise, which contributes to their social lives and allows them to follow the activity theory easily.

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In this booklet I will be explaining sociological perspectives. Sociological perspectives are perspectives on human behaviour and how they link in to society. Functionalism: The functionalist perspective was founded by Emile Durkheim.

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Sociological perspectives offer us fresh ways to view our familiar surroundings. Each one of us has a different perspective to see the world based on our unique individual life experiences. Therefore, without a sociological perspectives, we are hardly able to understand other people’s points of view. Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives: the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the interactionist perspective.

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Generativity versus stagnation is the seventh stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. This stage takes place during middle adulthood between the ages of approximately 40 and 65. During this time, adults strive to create or nurture things that will outlast them; often by parenting children or contributing to positive changes that benefit other people. Contributing to society and doing things to benefit future generations are important needs at the generativity versus stagnation stage of development.

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Robert Butler used this term to describe how old people withdraw from society because the society has not established balanced perspective about age groups. According to Achenbaum (2015), ageism was a systemic stereotyping of individuals based on their age. Ageism manifested in individual and institutional levels during

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The exclusion of older people is also one among the major factors leading to isolation, loneliness and

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Part Two The mutual disengagement and withdrawal between the older adult and society are one of the sociological theories of aging; the disengagement theory (Touhy, Jett, Boscart, & McCleary, 2012, p. 93). This theory does not apply to Gurdeep’s life as she moved in with her son’s family and constantly interacts with each of them every day. She also volunteers at the gurdwara daily and is still engaged in her spiritual and religious activities helping her increase her social interactions with those other than family. Due to the distance and her age, however, she has lost contact with many of her friends which applies to the disengagement theory where the older adult withdraws from their normal activities and interactions with society.

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Defining the issue Ageism is a form of discrimination and prejudice against an age group, and is actually felt by seniors (Ageism, 2009). Ageism includes false stereotypes which is applied to the seniors, also changes ones way of how they treat elders. As an individual society has taught us want to categorize people into groups, which often leads to use making incorrect and negative stereotypes on one another. A professor had asked her students if they were excited about getting older, and they all answered “no way!” Their explanation was a list of stereotypes such as, sick, unhappy, sexually inactive, as well as being alone.

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This results in an insufficient understanding of the positive aspects of growing older as well as an insufficient understanding of how to improve the lives of older persons and intergenerational relations (Levy & Macdonald, 2016). Social Separation of Ageism Another consequence of ageism is the intentional separation or segregation of older people from younger generations socially. Both sociologists and anthropologists have long recognized age as the basis of social organization and

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this means their opportunities are very limited and any opportunities for them to socialise aren’t usually taken. Disengagement theory influences health and social care provisions to provide more opportunities for older people to socialise even though they may have ill physical health. Activity theory suggests that older people must try and keep them selves mentally and socially active in order to prevent disengagement from taking place. This theory influences health and social care provisions to provide opportunities and resources to make sure that older people remain physically and mentally active

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Disengagement theory is a concept originally proposed by two social scientists, William Henry and Elaine Cumming in 1961 (Disengagement Theory, 2014) who were keen on studying the ageing process. According to their theory, the disengagement theory implies that in every society, the elderly undergo a process of adjustment in which they eventually leave important public roles and narrow their social world to family and friends. As people age, they tend to grow more fragile are prone to withdraw from the society. Their social circles shrink as they start to draw back and become less actively involved. This concept however, can be a mutual process as the society begins to be engage and include older people lesser which results in an evitable mutual

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Late Adulthood is the stage of the human life cycle where an individual nears the end of their life. The life expectancy in the United States has slowly increased over the years therefore allowed many to further analyze the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development during late adulthood. The stage of late adulthood has been emphasized by ageism and the stereotypical "old" person but, will be further educated by the normative development of the life cycle of late adulthood. For the “old” experience dramatic changes in their development as they face loss, death, and illness.

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