psychosocial theories of aging

Introduction

theories that attempt to explain aging in terms of

• • behavior
  • cognitive function
  • coping ability
  • relationships
  • roles
  • social interactions

Notes

Theories

• Disengagement theory
  • disengagement from social interactions with aging
• Activity theory
  • decline in regular activities, roles & social pursuits with aging
• Life-course theory
  • progressive adjustment to declining health & physical strength, changes in lifestyle, & death of loved ones
• Continuity theory
  • use of familiar strategies in familiar settings as an adaptive mechanism to deal with changes that occur with aging
• Gerotranscendesence theory
  • aging is a natural progression towards a goal of achieving wisdom, with a shift from materialistic & rational view to more cosmic & transcendent view

Additional terms

• neuropsychiatric features of aging