Transcript Document 7282602

Chapter 20
Socioemotional
Development in
Late Adulthood
Socioemotional Development
in Late Adulthood
Theories of
Socioemotional
Development
2
Older Adults
in Society
Families and
Social
Relationships
Ethnicity,
Gender,
and Culture
Successful
Aging
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Theories of
Socioemotional
Development
Erikson's
Theory
3
Disengagement
Theory
Activity
Theory
Socioemotional
Selectivity
Theory
Selective
Optimization
with Compensation
Theory
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Erikson’s Theory
 Integrity
Versus Despair
 Robert Peck’s Reworking of
Erikson’s Final Stage
 Life Review
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Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Integrity Versus Despair
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Erikson’s eighth and final stage of
development, experienced during late
adulthood.
Involves reflecting on the past and either
piecing together a positive review or
concluding that one’s life has not been
well spent.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Integrity Versus Despair
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If the older adult has developed a
positive outlook in each of the preceding
periods, then retrospective glances and
reminiscence will reveal a picture of a
life well spent (integrity).
Negative reflections of the past lead to
despair.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Robert Peck’s Reworking of
Erikson’s Final Stage
 Differentiation
Versus Role
Preoccupation
 Body Transcendence Versus
Body Preoccupation
 Ego Transcendence Versus
Ego Preoccupation
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Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Differentiation Versus Role
Preoccupation
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Peck’s developmental task in which
older adults must redefine their worth in
terms of something other than work
roles.
Peck believes older adults need to
pursue a set of valued activities so that
time previously spent in an occupation
and with children can be filled.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Body Transcendence
Versus Body Preoccupation
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Peck’s developmental task in which
older adults must cope with declining
physical well-being.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Body Transcendence
Versus Body Preoccupation
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For those whose identity has revolved around
their physical well-being, the decrease in
health and deterioration of physical
capabilities may present a severe threat to
identity and feelings of life satisfaction.
Many older adults who experience illnesses
enjoy life through human relationships.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Ego Transcendence Versus
Ego Preoccupation
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Peck’s developmental task in which
older adults must recognize that while
death is inevitable and probably not too
far away, they feel at ease with
themselves by realizing that they have
contributed to the future through the
competent rearing of their children or
through their vocation and ideas.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Life Review
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Involves looking back at one’s life experiences,
evaluating, interpreting, and often
reinterpreting them.
Robert Butler believes the life review is set in
motion by looking forward to death.
Life reviews can include sociocultural issues,
interpersonal and relationship dimensions, and
personal dimensions.
Hidden themes of great meaning to the
individual may emerge, changing the nature of
the person’s sense of self.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Disengagement Theory
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States that to cope effectively older
adults should gradually withdraw from
society.
Older adults develop increasing self
preoccupation, lessen emotional ties
with others, and show decreasing
interest in society’s affairs.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Disengagement Theory
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By following these strategies of
disengagement, it was believed that
older adults would enjoy enhanced life
satisfaction.
These were the prevailing beliefs about
older adults early in the 20th century.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Activity Theory
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States that the more active and involved
older adults are, the more likely they will
be satisfied with their lives.
Researchers have found strong support
for activity theory, as when older adults
are active, energetic, and productive,
they age more successfully and are
happier.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Socioemotional
Selectivity Theory
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States that older adults become more
selective about their social networks.
Because they place a high value on
emotional satisfaction, older adults often
spend more time with familiar individuals with
whom they have had rewarding relationships.
Older adults systematically hone their social
networks so that available social partners
satisfy their emotional needs.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Goals of Older Adults
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Socioemotional selectivity theory states
that the two classes of goals people
have are:
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knowledge-related.
emotional.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Goals of Older Adults
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The theory emphasizes that the trajectory of
motivation for knowledge-related goals starts
relatively high in the early years of life, and
declines beginning in middle and late
adulthood.
The emotion trajectory is high during infancy
and early childhood, declines from middle
childhood through early adulthood, and
increases in middle and late adulthood.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Selective Optimization with
Compensation Theory
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Paul Baltes’ theory states that successful
aging is linked with three main factors:
selection, optimization, and compensation.
The process of selective optimization with
compensation is likely to be effective
whenever loss is prominent in a person’s life.
Because of individual variations in the nature
of losses, the specific form of selection,
optimization, and compensation will likely
vary.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Selection, Optimization,
and Compensation
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Selection is based on the concept that
older adults have a reduced capacity
and loss of functioning, which require a
reduction in performance in most life
domains.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Selection, Optimization,
and Compensation
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Optimization suggests that it is possible
to maintain performance in some areas
through continued practice and the use
of new technologies.
Compensation becomes relevant when
life tasks require a level of capacity
beyond the current level of the older
adult’s performance potential.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Older Adults
in Society
Stereotyping
Older Adults
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Policy Issues
in an Aging
Society
Income
Living
Arrangements
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Stereotyping Older Adults
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Ageism is prejudice against others because
of their age, especially prejudice against older
adults.
Older adults may be perceived as incapable
of thinking clearly, learning new things,
enjoying sex, contributing to the community,
and holding responsible jobs.
Many groups now exist to lobby and fight for
issues related to the rights of the elderly.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Seven Stereotypes of
Older Adults
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Perfect grandmother
Golden ager
John Wayne conservative
Severely impaired
Shrew/Curmudgeon
Despondent
Recluse
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Policy Issues in an
Aging Society
 The
Status of the Economy
 The Provision of Health Care
 Eldercare
 Generational Inequity
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Black Hawk College Chapter 20
The Status of the Economy
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There exists the concern that our economy
cannot bear the burden of so many older
persons, who by reason of their age are
consumers rather than producers.
Not all persons 65 and over are nonworkers
and not all persons 18-64 are workers.
Considerably more individuals in the 55-64
age group are in the workforce than a decade
ago.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
The Provision of Health Care
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Escalating health-care costs are
currently causing considerable concern.
One factor that contributes to the surge
in health costs is the increasing number
of older adults.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
The Provision of Health Care
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Approximately one-third of the total health bill
of the U.S. is for the care of adults 65 and
over.
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation
currently without a national health-care
system.
While many of the health problems of the
elderly are chronic, the medical system is
based on a “cure” rather than a “care” model.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Eldercare
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The physical and emotional caretaking
of older members of the family, whether
that care is day-to-day physical
assistance or responsibility for
arranging and overseeing such care.
An important issue is how it can best be
provided.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Eldercare
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An added problem is many caregivers are in
their sixties and many are ill themselves.
Some gerontologists advocate that the
government should provide financial support
to help care for aging individuals.
This support has been slow to develop,
however.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Generational Inequity
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States that an aging society is being
unfair to its younger members because
older adults pile up advantages by
receiving an inequitably large allocation
of resources.
It raises questions about whether the
young should be required to pay for the
old.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Generational Inequity
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Some authors believe this inequity
produces intergenerational conflict and
divisiveness in society at large.
Another issue is whether or not the
“advantaged” old population is using up
resources that should go to
disadvantaged children.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Income
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Since the early 1980s, 10-12% of the
elderly population lives in poverty.
This percentage increases when
focusing on women only and ethnic
minorities, particularly those who are
women, with 50-60% poverty.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Income
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The oldest old are the age subgroup
most likely to live in poverty.
The average income of retired
Americans is only about a half of what
they earned when they were fully
employed.
Social Security is the largest contributor
to income.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Living Arrangements
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Nearly 95% of older adults live in the
community.
Almost 66% live with family members.
Almost 33% live alone.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Living Arrangements
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The quality of housing for the elderly is
far too often inadequate.
The older adults become, the more
likely they are to live in an institution.
The majority of the elderly in institutions
are widows, and they are increasing in
number.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Families and
Social Relationships
The Aging
Couple
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Grandparenting
Friendship
Social Support
and Social
Integration
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
The Aging Couple
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Individuals who are married in late
adulthood are happier than those who
are single.
Marital satisfaction is greater for women
than men.
A number of older adults date.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
The Aging Couple
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Older adults enjoy touching and
caressing as part of their sexual
relationships.
When older adults are healthy, they still
engage in sexual activities.
Companionship often becomes more
important.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Grandparenting
Satisfaction with Grandparenting
 Grandparenting Roles
 Grandparenting Styles
 The Changing Profile of
Grandparents
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Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Satisfaction with Grandparenting
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A majority of grandparents say
grandparenting is easier than parenting.
In one study, middle-aged grandparents
were more willing to give advice and to
assume responsibility for watching and
disciplining grandchildren than were
older grandparents.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Satisfaction with Grandparenting
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Frequent contact with grandchildren has
predicted high levels of satisfaction in
grandparenting for both grandmothers
and grandfathers.
Opportunities to observe their
grandchildren’s development and share
in their activities were described as the
best features of grandparenting.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Grandparenting Roles
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Grandparenting can be a source of
biological reward and continuity.
Grandparenting can be a source of
emotional self-fulfillment, generating
feelings of companionship and
satisfaction that may have been missing
in earlier adult-child relationships.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Grandparenting Roles
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Grandparenting is not as important to
some, who experience it as a remote
role.
The grandparent role may have different
functions in different families, ethnic
groups, and cultures, and in different
situations.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Grandparenting Styles
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Formal style - perform in what is
considered to be a proper and
prescribed role.
They show a strong interest in their
grandchildren, but leave the parenting
to the parents.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Grandparenting Styles
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Fun-seeking - informal and playful.
Grandchildren are a source of leisure
activity and they emphasize mutual
satisfaction.
Distant figure - benevolent, but
interaction occurs on an infrequent
basis.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
The Changing Profile
of Grandparents
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Climbing divorce rates, teen
pregnancies, and drug use are the main
reasons that grandparents are now
being thrust back into the “parenting”
role.
In 1997, census data showed that 3.9
million grandchildren lived with their
grandparents.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
The Changing Profile
of Grandparents
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Grandparents who take in grandchildren
are in better health, are better educated,
are more likely to be working outside
the home, and are younger than
grandparents who move in with their
children.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Friendship
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People choose close friends over new
friends as they grow older.
As long as they have several close
people in their network, they seem
content.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Friendship
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A recent study revealed that older men
declined in number of new friends, in their
desire for close friendships, and in
involvement beyond family activities; older
women did not.
Friendships with unrelated adults may help to
replace the warmth, companionship, and
nurturance that used to come from families.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Social Support and
Social Integration
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Social support can help individuals of all
ages cope more effectively.
Social support can improve the physical
and mental health of older adults.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Social Support and
Social Integration
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In one study, being part of a social
network was related to longevity,
especially for men.
Another study showed both men and
women with more organizational
memberships lived longer than their
counterparts with low group participation.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Ethnicity, Gender,
and Culture
Ethnicity
and Gender
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Culture
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Ethnicity
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Ethnic minority older individuals face
problems related to both ageism and
racism.
The wealth and the health of ethnic
minority elderly decrease faster than
that of elderly White.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Ethnicity
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They are more likely to become ill but
less likely to receive treatment.
Many ethnic minority workers never
enjoy the Social Security and Medicare
benefits because they die before being
eligible.
Family networks help elderly minorities
cope.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Gender
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Some developmentalists believe there is
decreasing femininity in women and
decreasing masculinity in men when they
reach late adulthood.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Gender
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Evidence shows that whereas the latter is true—
men become more nurturant, sensitive, etc.—
women do not become more masculine—
assertive, dominant, etc.
One study found that between 1958 and 1992,
older men decreased their time in paid work and
spent more time doing housework related
activities, while older women engaged in more
paid work.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Racism and Sexism
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Many women face the burden of both ageism
and sexism.
The poverty rate for elderly females is almost
double that of elderly males.
Only recently has scientific and political
interest in the aging woman developed.
Special attention needs to be devoted to the
elderly who are female ethnic minorities.
They face triple jeopardy—ageism, sexism,
racism.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Culture
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There are several factors most likely to
predict high status for the elderly in a culture.
In general, respect for older adults is greater
in collectivistic (such as China and Japan)
than individualistic (such as the U.S.)
cultures.
Researchers are finding that this
differentiation is not as strong as it used to
be.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Factors Predicting High
Status for the Elderly
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Older persons have valuable
knowledge.
They control key family/community
resources.
They are permitted to engage in useful
and valued functions as long as
possible.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Factors Predicting High
Status for the Elderly
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There is a role continuity throughout the life
span.
Age-related role changes involve greater
responsibility, authority, and advisory
capacity.
The extended family is a common family
arrangement in the culture, and the older
person is integrated into the extended family.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Successful
Aging
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Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Aspects of Successful Aging
Proper diet
 Active lifestyle
 Mental stimulation and flexibility
 Positive coping skills
 Good social relationships and
support
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Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Successful Aging Lifestyle
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Being active is particularly important in
successful aging.
Older adults who go to meetings,
participate in church activities, go on
trips, and exercise regularly are more
satisfied with their lives.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20
Successful Aging Lifestyle
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Successful aging also involves
perceived control over the environment
and a sense of self-efficacy.
Researchers have found that many
older adults are quite effective in
maintaining a sense of control and have
a positive view of themselves.
Black Hawk College Chapter 20