PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING
Material for the Midterm Examination
INTRODUCTION
I. Definitions.A.Aging.
– Operational data.
– Anticipatory development.
B. Gerontology.
C. Gerontologist.
D. Geriatrics.
E. Senescence.
F. Senility.
G. Ageism.
H. Third age.
I. Young-old.
J. Oldest-old.
II. Demographics.
A. Definition.
B. Variables.
– Crude mortality rate.
C. Population statistics.
1. By year.
a. Over age 65.
b. Over age 85.
2. By gender.
a. Sex ratio.
b. Reasons.
– Pleiotrophy.
c. Gender-specific problems.
3. By state.
D. Longevity.
1. Lifespan.
2. Life expectancy at birth.
3. Median age.
4. Support ratios.
– Age pyramid.
a. Societal support ratio.
b. Parental support ratio.
III. The Future
A. Prolongevity.
1. Definition.
– Ray Kurzweil.
2. Strategies.
a. Nanotechnology.
– Nanorobots.
b. Gene technology.
1'. Work with C. elegans
2'. Hayflick Limit.
a'. Cell Types.
– Post-mitotic cells.
– Mitotic cells.
– Confluency.
b'. Telomerase.
– Telomeres.
c'. Implications for aging.
– Systemic reserve.
B. Transhumanism.
1. Definition.
2. Differences from prolongevity.
– Posthuman.
– Upload consciousness.
C. Ramifications.
1. Biological.
– Compression of morbidity.
– Tithonus.
2. Social.
3. Psychological.
– Boredom.
MODELS
I. Social/Anthropological Models.
A. Disengagement theory.
– Cumming & Henry, 1961).
B. Activity theory.
– Havighurst, Neugarten & Tobin, 1968.
C. Role exit theory.
– Blau, 1973.
– Core roles.
D. Social exchange theory.
– Dowd, 1975, 1980, 1984.
– Profit = rewards - costs.
E. Modernization theory.
– e.g. Cowgill & Holmes, 1972.
F. Old age as subculture.
– Generational inequity.
G. Selectivity theory.
– Field & Minkler, 1988; Lang and Carstensen, 1994.
H. Discontinuity theory.
– Benedict, 1934[50].
II. Psychological Models.
A. Continuous theories.
1. Characteristics.
2. Operant conditioning.
– Skinner
– S -----> R -----> Sc.
a. Reinforcer.
b. Punisher.
c. Extinction.
3. Implications for aging.
– Thinning of reinforcement schedules.
a. Gradual thinning. (see Skinner, 1983)
1'. Prosthetic environments.
– Prosthesis.
2'. Eutrapelia.
b. Massive loss.
1'. Frustration Effect.
2'. Depression.
– DRO – Differential Reinforcement of Other (Behavior).
B. Discontinuous (stage) theories.
1. Characteristics.
2. Sigmund Freud.
a. Psychosexual stages.1'.Pre-genital stages.
– Narcissistic.
2'. True genitality.
b. Regression.
3. Erik Erikson.
a. Model.
– neo-Freudian.
b. Psychosocial stages.
– Syntonic
– Dystonic
1'. Basic Trust vs. Mistrust (birth – 1 year).
– Hope.
2'. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (2– 3 years).
– Will power.
3'. Initiative vs. Guilt (4– 6 years).
– Purpose.
4'. Industry vs. Inferiority (7 – puberty).
– Competence.
5'. Identity versus Role Confusion (Stage V – Puberty to age 18).
– Fidelity.
6'. Intimacy versus Isolation (Stage VI – age 18 to 30).
– Divided function.
– Love.
7'. Generativity versus Stagnation (Stage VII – age 30 to 65).
– Care.
8'. Ego Integrity versus Despair (Stage VIII – age 65 until death).
– the “three Rs.”
– Rites of passage.
– Wisdom.
c. Gerotranscendence.
– 9th stage.
– Joan Erikson.
– Lars Tornstam.
1'. Cosmic transcendence.
2'. Coherence.
3'. Need for solitude.
TIME IN OLD AGE
I. Time.
– Relative.
II. Looking Ahead.
A. To one’s death.
B.
Postself.– Ways to “live on.”
a. In the memory of others.
– The “dead-dead.”
b. Through one’s works.
c. In the bodies of others.
– through organ transplants.
d. In the genes of our children.
C. Eternity.
– Eschatology
III. Looking Back.
A. Erikson.
– Ego integrity versus despair.
B. Life review.
– various ways to do carry out a life review:
1. Dreams.
2. Mirror gazing.
3. Informal reminiscence.
– Reminiscence bump.
4. Formal reminiscence.
a. Oral history.
b. Autobiographical creations.
c. Reminiscence
therapy.
MIDLIFE TRANSITION
I. Markers.
A. Bioligical markers.
– Menopause.
– Climacteric.
B. Psychosocial markers.
II. Daniel Levinson
A. Sample.
B. Model.
– Eras.
– Major transitions.
– Stable periods.
C. Early adult era.
1. Early adult transition.
2. Entering the adult world.
– Three factors:
a. Dream.
b. Mentor.
c. Loved woman.
3. Age 30 transition.
4. Settling down.
D. Midlife transition.
– Three psychosocial factors:
1. Changes in biological function.
– Genetic preprogramming model.
– Passive form.
– Active form.
2. Sequence of generations.
– Peers.
– Half generation.
– Full generation.
3. Evolving careers and enterprises.
– Culminating event.
III. C. G. Jung (1875-1961).
A. Components of the personality.
1. Conscious mind.
2. Unconscious mind.
a. Personal unconscious.
b. Collective unconscious.
– Archetypes.
– Persona.
– Anima-Animus.
– Shadow.
– Self.
B. Midlife transition.
1. Jung’s midlife transition.
2. Process.
a. Early adulthood.
– Ego-world axis.
– Inflation/deflation.
– Dominant/inferior functions.
b. Midlife.
– Enantiodromia.
1'. Individuation.
2'. Integration.
– Transcendent Function.
C. Personality changes.
1. Active to passive mastery.
2. Increased interiority.
3. Toward a unisex quality.