Ageism

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Reflection and Thoughts on Theories of Aging, Impairments, and Differ Perspectives of Norms on Aging and Ageism
Successful aging is characteristized as low risk of disease and disease-related disability, high mental and physical functions, and active engagement with life. It is an illusion of “Great Age.” Diet, lifestyle, genetics, and personality makes a difference on achieving the success of aging. In addition, the norms by society is unstable influencing negative self-concept. Self-concept affect life expectancy due to the negative influence to self-image, self-esteem, and self-interest. Therefore, it is important for Gerontologist to be interested in life’s courses because of the intersection with identity development in self-concept. …show more content…

Ageism is a racism or discrimination against the age adult from the assumption of impairments. In a survey of 84 people ages 60 and older, nearly 80 percent of respondents reported experiencing ageism--such as other people assuming they had memory or physical impairments due to their age (Dittmann, 2003). The classification of life stages of aging who face ageism are young old, old old, and oldest old based on social norms. Young old are those between the age of 55 - 75. Old old are those between the age of 75 and older. Oldest old are those between the age of 85 and older. The social structure defines the life stages as roles in society with behavior expectation, which is regulated by age norms. However, norms of aging do change as society changes. The norms of aging are based on their ability to control power, prestige, wealth, and other objects of value through hierarchy set by society. The following journal will answer personal question regarding my …show more content…

A theory gives understanding on the nature and consequence of events with a constructed explanation. It is a generalization of social life by explaining, describing, and predicting behavior. Culture and historical context shape theories. The theories are microtheories or macrotheories. Micortheories are individual behavior. Macrotheories are society level behavior. The theories that reflect human behavior of aging are activity, continuity, selective, successful aging, productive aging, disengagement, exchange, subculture of aging, age stratification, life course, modernization, political economy, critical, and feminist. Activity is an individual behavior to maintain midlife activities as long as possible to maximize. Continuity is and individual behavior of adult development that assumes personality and coping mechanisms remain stable with aging. Selective is and individual behavior, which is a process of coordinating and balancing the gains and losses associated with aging to master daily life. Successful aging is an individual behavior that focuses on life satisfaction and happiness, health, and social interactions. Productive aging is and individual behavior of and active older population whose participation in paid or volunteer work is vital for the well-being of its members. Disengagement is a individual and society behavior based on social norms mandate withdrawal from vital

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    One important measure of the perception of the aging process is the manner in which aging and old age are depicted in various cultural forms. The condition of old age in primitive and prehistoric societies has been described by the folk tales and cave drawings of that have survived to the present (Fisher, 1978). Likewise, it is possible that current societal views of aging may be illuminated through the impressions created by contemporary agents of socialization. And while it is difficult to determine whether stereotypical images are derived from reality or if, if fact, such images create reality (Clark, 1980), it is possible to investigate how and to what extent certain institutions reflect various images of the aging process.

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