Psyc 222 Developmental Psychology II

Psyc 222Developmental Psychology II

Dean Owen, Ph.D., LPCCDean Owen, Ph.D., LPCC

Spring 2011Spring 2011

Unit 8a: Unit 8a:

LATE ADULTHOOD LATE ADULTHOOD

Social DevelopmentSocial Development

What to look for today…What to look for today…

1.1. Social theories of AgingSocial theories of Aging

2.2. Social contexts of aging: Living conditionsSocial contexts of aging: Living conditions

3.3. Relationships in Late AdulthoodRelationships in Late Adulthood

4.4. RetirementRetirement

Social Theories of AgingSocial Theories of Aging

1.1. Disengagement TheoryDisengagement Theory

2.2. Activity TheoryActivity Theory

3.3. Continuity theoryContinuity theory

4.4. Socioemotional Selectivity TheorySocioemotional Selectivity Theory


Disengagement TheoryDisengagement Theory Mutual withdrawal between elders and society takes place Mutual withdrawal between elders and society takes place

in anticipation of death. Older people become less social in anticipation of death. Older people become less social and active and this makes their life more comfortable and and active and this makes their life more comfortable and their ultimate death less disruptive for society. their ultimate death less disruptive for society.

Cummings & Henry, 1961Cummings & Henry, 1961


Activity TheoryActivity Theory proposes that social barriers to proposes that social barriers to engagement cause declining levels of interaction. engagement cause declining levels of interaction. The loss of certain roles (active parenting, career, The loss of certain roles (active parenting, career, or widowhood) produces attempts to stay or widowhood) produces attempts to stay engaged with others and remain active. The engaged with others and remain active. The degree to which this is successful is a measure of degree to which this is successful is a measure of life satisfaction…..life satisfaction…..

As one group of activities disappear there is an As one group of activities disappear there is an attempt to find an alternative replacement.attempt to find an alternative replacement.

Maddox, 1963Maddox, 1963


Continuity theory Continuity theory Tends to view most aging adults Tends to view most aging adults

as attempting to maintain a as attempting to maintain a “personal system”…an “personal system”…an identity and a set of personal identity and a set of personal dispositions, interests, roles, dispositions, interests, roles, and skills that provide a link or and skills that provide a link or continuation with their earlier continuation with their earlier life……life……

Atchley, 1989Atchley, 1989

childhoodchildhood

AdolescenceAdolescence

Early Early AdulthoodAdulthood

MiddleMiddleAdulthoodAdulthood

LateLateAdulthoodAdulthood


Socioemotional Socioemotional Selectivity TheorySelectivity Theory

This theory suggests that elders This theory suggests that elders continue to refine and deepen their continue to refine and deepen their relationships with an increasingly relationships with an increasingly selective number of important selective number of important people. This is a continuation of the people. This is a continuation of the pattern of earlier adult periods when pattern of earlier adult periods when many acquaintances gives way to a many acquaintances gives way to a smaller number of real friends.smaller number of real friends.

Carstensen & Lang, 2001Carstensen & Lang, 2001

Social contexts Social contexts of agingof aging

The quality of life and the The quality of life and the degree of satisfaction degree of satisfaction experienced by elders experienced by elders depends upon their living depends upon their living arrangements.arrangements.

Social contexts of agingSocial contexts of aging

Suburban elders enjoy higher income and better healthSuburban elders enjoy higher income and better health


Inner-city elders have easier access to social services.Inner-city elders have easier access to social services.


Elders living in rural areas have limited access to services Elders living in rural areas have limited access to services and tend to be poorer.and tend to be poorer.


Elders living communities with others of similar age and Elders living communities with others of similar age and status tend to be happiest.status tend to be happiest.


Elders living alone in large cities tend to be fearful of crime Elders living alone in large cities tend to be fearful of crime and limited opportunities for activity.and limited opportunities for activity.


Aging in PlaceAging in Place: This term refers to remaining in one’s own : This term refers to remaining in one’s own home during the later years and retaining control of many home during the later years and retaining control of many aspects of life…independent living in familiar aspects of life…independent living in familiar surroundings. Health and mobility issues make this surroundings. Health and mobility issues make this impossible for many.impossible for many.


Congregate housing:Congregate housing: This refers to residential This refers to residential communities for the elderly that provide a wide range of communities for the elderly that provide a wide range of services from completely independent living to assisted services from completely independent living to assisted living to full nursing home care.living to full nursing home care.

Most elders will attempt to maintain close Most elders will attempt to maintain close relationships with both family and close friends. relationships with both family and close friends. This cluster, although changing, will continue to This cluster, although changing, will continue to provide care and support and safety. The ability provide care and support and safety. The ability to maintain this cluster is associated with higher to maintain this cluster is associated with higher quality of life and satisfaction during late quality of life and satisfaction during late adulthood.adulthood.

Relationships in Late AdulthoodRelationships in Late Adulthood

Social convoySocial convoy

Marital satisfaction peaks during late adulthood as Marital satisfaction peaks during late adulthood as many of the stresses of earlier life (career, child many of the stresses of earlier life (career, child rearing, etc) decline and opportunities for shared rearing, etc) decline and opportunities for shared activities and improved communication increases.activities and improved communication increases.


Marital Marital SatisfactionSatisfaction

When divorce occurs late in life there is usually more When divorce occurs late in life there is usually more stress than for younger people. Financial stress than for younger people. Financial insecurity and reduced likelihood of remarriage insecurity and reduced likelihood of remarriage make divorce more difficult for women.make divorce more difficult for women.


DivorceDivorce

Although the rates are low, older individual’s remarry Although the rates are low, older individual’s remarry and the relationships tend to be stable. and the relationships tend to be stable. Increasingly cohabitation is being chosen for Increasingly cohabitation is being chosen for financial and personal reasons.financial and personal reasons.


RemarriageRemarriage

CohabitationCohabitation

The adaptation to life following the loss of a spouse The adaptation to life following the loss of a spouse seems dependent upon:seems dependent upon:

• Age (older people adapt better)Age (older people adapt better)

• Social Support (having family and friends)Social Support (having family and friends)

• Personality (extraverted, high self-esteem, and Personality (extraverted, high self-esteem, and high self-efficacy most important)high self-efficacy most important)


WidowhoodWidowhood

The importance of friends increases during late The importance of friends increases during late life and serves a variety of functions including:life and serves a variety of functions including:

• IntimacyIntimacy

• CompanionshipCompanionship

• AcceptanceAcceptance

• Link to the communityLink to the community

• Psychological support during lossPsychological support during loss


FriendshipFriendship

As the aging process progresses there is an As the aging process progresses there is an increasing need for the support and increasing need for the support and assistance of others. The two sources that assistance of others. The two sources that are available include family and volunteers are available include family and volunteers and paid professionals. Most elders prefer to and paid professionals. Most elders prefer to remain independent for as long as possible remain independent for as long as possible and many express fear of becoming a burden and many express fear of becoming a burden on their children.on their children.


Issues of Issues of dependencydependency

Traditionally families routinely accepted an aging Traditionally families routinely accepted an aging parent into the home but increasingly, many parent into the home but increasingly, many dual career families utilize professional care dual career families utilize professional care facilities to enable them to avoid interruption facilities to enable them to avoid interruption of career and child rearing responsibilities.of career and child rearing responsibilities.


Issues of Issues of dependencydependency

Some elders suffer abuse from family, friends or Some elders suffer abuse from family, friends or professional caregivers. Abandonment by professional caregivers. Abandonment by family care givers has been increasing.family care givers has been increasing.


Elder abuseElder abuse

Active: Intentional actions Active: Intentional actions design to harm an individualdesign to harm an individual

Passive: Failure to provide Passive: Failure to provide basic and needed care and basic and needed care and services.services.


Elder abuseElder abuse

RetirementRetirement

InvoluntaryInvoluntary VoluntaryVoluntary


The decision to retire depends upon:The decision to retire depends upon:

1.1. Financial affordability….the big gamble….hope Financial affordability….the big gamble….hope to die the day the money runs out….to die the day the money runs out….

2.2. Opportunities to pursue meaningful alternative Opportunities to pursue meaningful alternative activities….what about workaholics???? Is there activities….what about workaholics???? Is there life beyond career????life beyond career????

3.3. Societal Factors (Available retirement benefits, Societal Factors (Available retirement benefits, pensions, etc.)pensions, etc.)

4.4. Gender (women retire earlier than men…..Why?)Gender (women retire earlier than men…..Why?)


The adjustment to retirement is dependent upon:The adjustment to retirement is dependent upon:

1.1. Health statusHealth status

2.2. Degree of planningDegree of planning

3.3. Degree of personal control over life events Degree of personal control over life events (voluntary or forced retirement for example)(voluntary or forced retirement for example)

4.4. The ability to view retirement not as the end of The ability to view retirement not as the end of productive work but the beginning of a new and productive work but the beginning of a new and more flexible time of life.more flexible time of life.

5.5. Social supportSocial support

6.6. Marital satisfactionMarital satisfaction


Four main phases of retirementFour main phases of retirement

1.1. Initial honeymoon period….fishing Initial honeymoon period….fishing every day (6-12 months)…it’s great every day (6-12 months)…it’s great but it does get old…..but it does get old…..

2.2. Growing dissatisfaction and Growing dissatisfaction and frustration..feeling lost….frustration..feeling lost….

3.3. Period of self-appraisal and Period of self-appraisal and redefinitionredefinition

4.4. Establishment in new and productive Establishment in new and productive activities including community activities including community involvement and increased family involvement and increased family contact. The goal is to find a balance contact. The goal is to find a balance of productive work and meaningful of productive work and meaningful leisure. leisure.

Optimal AgingOptimal Aging

Elders who achieve this have discovered ways to minimize losses and Elders who achieve this have discovered ways to minimize losses and maximize gains. Social conditions that permit older adults to retain as maximize gains. Social conditions that permit older adults to retain as much personal control and dignity as is possible while insuring that much personal control and dignity as is possible while insuring that their social, psychological and physical needs are met. their social, psychological and physical needs are met.

Optimal Aging is enhanced byOptimal Aging is enhanced by : :

1. Well funded social security programs1. Well funded social security programs

2. Adequate and flexible personal retirement programs2. Adequate and flexible personal retirement programs

3. Quality, affordable and accessible health care3. Quality, affordable and accessible health care

4. Availability of affordable and safe housing that can be adjusted 4. Availability of affordable and safe housing that can be adjusted according to the physical needs of individuals.according to the physical needs of individuals.

5. Availability of social services…5. Availability of social services…

6. Opportunities for lifelong learning.6. Opportunities for lifelong learning.

Questions or comments ??Questions or comments ??

Documents

Psyc 222 Developmental Psychology II