Chapter 19: Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood

Theories of socioemotional development

• Erikson’s integrity vs despair

• Activity theory

• Socioemotional selectivity theory

• Selective optimization with compensation theory

Erikson’s Integrity Versus Despair:

Reflecting on the past and either piecing together a positive review or concluding that one’s life has not been well spent

• Existential identity; a sense of integrity strong enough to withstand physical disintegration

Integrity

Retrospective glances and reminiscences will reveal a picture of a life well spent, and the older adult will be satisfied

Despair

Retrospective evaluations of the total worth of his or her life might be negative

Life Review

Looking back at one’s life experiences, evaluating them, interpreting them, and often reinterpreting them

Robert Butler’s view

There are chances for pain, anger, guilt, and grief, but there are also opportunities for resolution and celebration, for affirmation and hope, for reconciliation and personal growth

• Set in motion by anticipating death

• Can include sociocultural dimensions, interpersonal, relationship and personal dimensions

Aspect of life reviews

• Look at the positive aspects and regrets

• Revive bitterness and negative thoughts

• May increase meaning in life

Reminiscence therapy

Discussing past activities and experiences with another individual or group

• Higher sense of integrity

• Increased self esteem

• Life satisfaction

• Psychological well being

Activity theory

More active and involved older adults are, the more likely they are to be satisfied with their lives

• Continuing middle adulthood roles into late adulthood leads to greater life satisfaction 

• If not, find substitute roles

Socioemotional selectivity theory

Older adults become more selective about their social networks 

• Spend more time with individuals with whom they have had rewarding relationships 

• Being adaptive, spending time with people who matter bc minimizes risks of people they are not close with

Classes of goals

• Knowledge related

• Emotional related

Knowledge related

Starts relatively high in the early years of life, peaks in adolescence and early adulthood, declines in middle to late

Emotional related

High during infancy and early childhood, deciles from middle childhood to early adulthood then increases in middle to late

• When individuals are younger, people are more strongly motivated to pursue information, even at the cost of emotional satisfaction but as they grow old, they are motivated to spend more time pursuing emotional satisfaction

Time is open ended

Strongly motivated to pursue information even at the cost of emotional satisfaction (mind over heart)

Less time left

Motivated to pursue emotional satisfaction

Older adults’ emotions

• Fewer highs and lows, more contentment

• React less strongly to negative circumstances

• Better at ignoring irrelevant information (adaptive) 

• Remember more positive than negative information

• Emotional life of older adults are more positive and less negative

Selective optimization with compensation theory

Successful aging depends on three main factors

• Selection

• Optimization

• Compensation

Selection

Older adults have reduced capacity and loss of functioning, which require a reduction in performance in most life domains 

• Focus on the most important goal at a particular time

• What do you want in life (1-2 major goals commit) 

• Realize that to reach a goal, you may need to abandon other goals

Optimization

Possible to maintain performance in some areas through continued practice and use of new technologies

• Keep working on what you planned until successful 

• Persevere and keep trying

• You may need to be patient until right moment arrives

Compensation

Older adults need to compensate when life tasks require a higher level of capacity

• When things don't go the way they used to, find other ways

• If things don't go well for you let others help you

• When you are not getting results like in the past, find other ways until you do

Paul Baltes

Describe the life of the late Arthur Rubinstein to illustrate their theory: three factors were responsible for his ability to maintain his status as an admired concert pianist into old age

• Selection of domains and life priorities is an important aspect of development

Ursula Staudinger’s degree of personal life investment at different points in life

• 25 to 34 years: work, friends, family, independence

• 35 to 54 years: family, work, friends, cognitive fitness

• 55 to 65 years: family, health, friends, cognitive fitness

• 70 to 85 years: family, health, cognitive fitness, friends

• 85 to 100 years: health, family, thinking about life, cognitive fitness

Different types of aging

• Normal aging

• Pathological aging

• Successful aging

Normal aging

Their psychological functioning often peaks in early midlife, plateaus until the late fifties to early sixties, then modestly declines through the early eighties, although marked decline often occurs prior to death

Pathological aging

These individuals may have mild cognitive impairment in early old age, develop Alzheimer disease later, or have chronic disease that impairs their daily functioning

Successful aging

Characterizes individuals whose physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development is maintained longer than for most individuals and declines later than for most people

Effects of successful aging

With a proper diet, an active lifestyle, mental stimulation and flexibility, positive coping skills, good social relationships and support, and the absence of disease, many abilities can be maintained or in some cases even improved as we get older

Many abilities can be maintained and or improved in older adults due to

• Proper diet 

• Active lifestyle 

• Mental stimulation and flexibility 

• Positive coping skills 

• Good social relationships 

• Absence of disease

Being active and engaged are important in successful aging

• E.g., exercise regularly, attend meetings and church activities,

• Engage in challenging cognitive tasks

• Being emotionally selective, optimizing choices

• Independent in many aspects of life 

• Compensating effectively for losses