Erikson’s view of the self

• Erikson’s 8th psychosocial stage of development is integrity vs despair

  • Begins in late adulthood (65+)

  • Individual attempts to find the virtue of wisdom.

    • As people enter their twilight years, they reflect on their contributions to society

• The favorable outcome occurs if the older adult feels a sense of integrity and fulfillment and a willingness to face death.

  • If the preceding period were developed in a positive way

• Those who feel a dissatisfaction with their life experience despair over the prospect of their imminent death

  • If one or more of the earlier stages were resolved in a negative way

Activity Theory

• The activity theory states that the more active and involved older adults are, the more likely they are to be satisfied with their lives.

  • It suggests that many people achieve greater life satisfaction if they continue their middle-adulthood roles into late adulthood.

  • If these are lost, it is important to find substitute roles that keep them active and involved.

    • Retiring from paid employment → do volunteer work

    • Losing a spouse → join a new social group

    • Children growing up → help take care of grandchildren

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST)

• The SST suggests the decline in social activity in old age is reflective of a life-long selection process where older adults prioritize emotional meaning and satisfaction in ther interactions.

• The number of individuals in a person’s social circle tends to fluctuate as we age

  • Close relationships are maintained while superficial relationships are filtered

• This theory challenges the stereotype that the smaller networks of older adults are related to emotional despair.

  • Instead, it supports that carefully chosen and meaningful social networks lead to rewarding interactions.

Motives for Social Interaction in the SST

• There are 2 main goals/motives for social interaction.

• Information-seeking: involves reaching out to meet new people

  • Relatively high in early years, then peaks in adolescence and early adulthood

    • Interaction with new people can help select a future spouse or life partner, long-term friendships, potential careers, or future interests

• Emotional regulation: involves the preference to socialize with familiar partners.

  • High in infancy and early childhood, declines from middle childhood through early adulthood, and increases again in middle to late adulthood.

    • Interaction with familiar partners are more intimate and gratifying and tend to yield positive feelings

Selective Optimization with Compensation Theory (SOC)

• The SOC states that successful aging depends on 3 factors.

  • Selection: older adults have reduced capacity and loss of functioning, so they required a reduction in performance in most life domains.

    • Avoid spreading themselves too thin and improve time management.

  • Optimization: it is possible to maintain performance in some areas through practice and the use of new technologies.

    • Get continuous training.

  • Compensation: is needed when a life task requires a level of capacity beyond the current level of their performance potential.

    • Try to make weaknesses less visible and accomplishments more visible

Self-Esteem

• A cross-sectional study of self-esteem found:

  • First declines during adolescence

  • Increases in the 20s

  • Levels off in the 30s and 40s

  • Rises considerably in the 50s and 60s

  • Drops significantly in the 70s and 80s

• Explanations for the decline of self-esteem in late adulthood:

  • Deteriorating physical health

  • Loss of roles

  • Loss of loved ones

  • Negative societal attitudes toward older adults

Stereotyping older adults

• Social participation by older adults is often discouraged by ageism - the prejudice against others because of their age.

  • Especially against older adults

  • Might not be hired for new jobs or eased out of old ones, might be shunned socially and edged out of family decisions.

• Older adults are often perceived as incapable of…

  • Thinking clearly

  • Learning new things

  • Enjoying sex

  • Contributing to the community

  • Holding responsible jobs

3 Patterns of Change

• Normal aging - psychological functioning peaks in early midlife, plateaus in the late 50s to early 60s, then slightly declines through the early 80s (a marked decline may occur prior to death)

• Pathological aging - a greater average decline occurs in late adulthood; may experience mild cognitive impairment in early old age, develop dementia later, or have a chronic disease that impairs daily functioning

• Successful aging - physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development is maintained longer than for most and declines later than it does for most people.

Aging Successfully

• Many abilities can be maintained and/or improves in older adults with ….

  • Proper dier

  • Active lifestyle

  • Mental stimulation and flexibility

  • Positive coping skills

  • Good social relationships and support

  • Absence of disease