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Kculver24
BasicConcepts1SP18.pptxBasic Concepts 1
A Life Course Perspective on Aging
Concepts for Thinking About the Meaning of Age
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Age identification: refers to both how many years have passed since we were born as well as an individual's experiences of the aging process
Age differentiation: certain roles and behaviors are considered appropriate based on chronological age
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
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Concepts for Thinking About the Meaning of Age (cont.)
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Age grading: refers to the way people are assigned different roles in society based on their age
Age stratification: theory that a person’s position in the age structure affects behavior or attitudes
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Stages of Life
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Humans have always seemed to recognize a progression through the life course, no matter how long it is, from young age to old age.
However, views of how humans age and the meaning and expectations attached to certain ages have changed over time and vary by culture.
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
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The Stages of Life (cont.)
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Example: In the Western world, during different historical eras there were different views of the human progression through the life course.
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Stages of Life (cont.)
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Since the middle of the 20th century, because of increases in longevity, distinctions are made between certain stages of life, based on chronological age groups and the assumption that members of the group have things in common:
“Young-Old”: ages 65–74
“Old-Old”: ages 75–84
“Oldest-Old”: ages 85 and over
The Many Faces of Aging (7:23)
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Moved on 3.6.17 by VW-G
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Traditional Theories of Aging
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Modernization Theory: claims that the status of older adults declines as societies become more modern
Old age was valued in agricultural society where the elders controlled the land
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Traditional Theories of Aging (cont.)
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Disengagement Theory: considers old age to be a time when both the older person and society engage in mutual separation (e.g., retirement from work)
One of the earliest attempts to explain old age in modern society
Doesn’t always refer to the outward behavior of people—can mean an inner attitude toward life
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Traditional Theories of Aging (cont.)
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Activity Theory: argues that the more active people are, the more likely they are to be satisfied with life
Opposite view of Disengagement Theory
May be difficult for “old-old” people because of physical changes with aging
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Traditional Theories of Aging (cont.)
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Continuity Theory: claims that people who grow older are inclined to maintain as much as they can of the same habits, personality, and style of life they developed in earlier years
Similar to Activity Theory in asserting that decreases in social interaction are better explained by poor health or disability, rather than some functional need of society to “disengage” older people from their previous roles
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Life Course and Aging
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
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Aging is increasingly viewed from a “Life Course” perspective
Span of a lifetime = total number of years we live
Course of life = the meaningful pattern seen in the passing of time
Earlier experiences are thought to influence how aging and later life are experienced
The Life Course and Aging (cont.)
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An individual's characteristics—class, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, etc.—are seen as important as well
Longitudinal design is the research methodology used to follow how development unfolds in individuals over time and is the primary approach used to study the life course.
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Influences on the Life Course
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All theories have limits: none fully explains the many ways individuals experience old age
Many also reflect social values in uncritical ways (e.g., setting up either activity or disengagement as the ideal goal in old age)
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Influences on the Life Course (cont.)
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Most pervasive view of adulthood assumes continuous deterioration and decline
Gives priority to biological factors and is the basis for age-based prejudice called Ageism
AGEISM (2:22)
Ageism Towards Older People (6:31)
Seniors in Pop Media (3:10)
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
I recommend removing the AGEISM (2:22) video since it is somewhat specific to Canada. I have included a different Ageism video that is more definitions and information to what ageism is.
Ageism towards older people added 3.6.17 by VW-G
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Influences on the Life Course (cont.)
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Social class and life history affect one’s path through the life course
Also, other factors such as earlier life events, social/cultural historical events, unpredictable non-normative life events, etc. have an influence
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Influences on the Life Course (cont.)
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Social institutions and policies have structured the life course in modern times, and define transitions throughout life
This may provide order and predictability, or it may foster dependency on the system
Examples: “learned helplessness” and “excess disability”
The Big Idea in 4 Minutes - Coming of Age In Aging America (4:48)
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Aging in the 21st Century
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Today, we no longer have a shared map for the course of life
Time and the Life Course—there are many expectations about how much time should be spent in certain stages of life
e.g., time spent devoted to education, childbearing, etc.
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Aging in the 21st Century (cont.)
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The Moral Economy of the Life Course—embodies expectations of what is fair or right
The old moral economy that distributed work and leisure according to chronological age is losing its power
Aging in the 21st Century (5:47)
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Discussion Question
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Are there any new aging expectations or patterns that seem to be emerging in the 21st century?
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Biology of Aging
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The new science of longevity—on a biological level, aging results from changes in cells, tissues, etc.; so we understand the process by comparing young cells to old ones
Cross-sectional methodology—looks at the physical function of people at different chronological ages, but at a single point in time (e.g., looking at a 1-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year-old on April 25, 2016)
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Biology of Aging (cont.)
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Biomarkers—biological indicators that can identify features of the basic process of aging (ex., blood pressure, eyesight and hearing abilities, etc.)
Reserve capacity—the body’s ability to recover from assaults and withstand high demands during physical exertion
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Biology of Aging (cont.)
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For each species, there is a different:
Lifespan: the maximum number of years a member of a species can survive
And
Life expectancy: the average number of years an individual can be expected to live after birth taking into account environmental factors
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
The Biology of Aging (cont.)
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Lifespan and Life expectancy are related but not the same thing. A newer concept is “health span”: the number of years of health and well-being a person experiences.
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Mechanisms of Physical Aging
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Wear and Tear: the balance between the body’s exposure to damage and its ability to repair itself shifts, and it becomes harder for the body to heal itself
Free Radicals: ionized oxygen molecules are the waste products that result from continuous cell metabolism and may contribute to physical aging
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Mechanisms of Physical Aging (cont.)
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The Immune System: the immune system’s job is to defend the body against invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites; with normal aging, the body’s ability to fight invaders declines
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Aging and Psychological Functioning
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A long-term research project spearheaded by Rowe and Kahn introduced the concept “successful aging” and explored the important connections among the following:
Self-concept and social relationships
Social roles
Cognitive functioning
Physical health
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
Discussion Question
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The “successful aging” concept is not without its critics. What might be some of the underlying assumptions of this approach?
Moody, Aging 9e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
