SSCI 1300U Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Disengagement Theory, Conflict Theories, Ageism
13 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
January 23, 2018
Age
Lecture 3
The life courses
• Sequence of individual age-linked experiences over time
• Linked to social institutions
• Going to school, getting married, starting a career, saving for a house, having a child,
retiring, death
Dimensions of age
• Chronological
o The number of years since someone was born
• Biological
o Physical changes that occur as we get older. Deterioration of our bodies.
▪ Hair turns grey
▪ Loss of muscle mass/strength
• Psychological
o Changes in our cognitive capacity, or personality
▪ Greater risks of depression/dementia
▪ Lowered ability to learn and retain knowledge
• Social
o Changes in roles and relationships.
Social aging examples
• Wise and experienced versus slow and ineffective
• Community leader/elder versus curmudgeon
• All based entirely on perceptions
Theoretical perspectives on aging
• Disengagement Theory
• Activity Theory
• Conflict Theory
Disengagement theory
• Younger people need to be able to assume the important roles in society.
• Older people need to be encouraged to disengage from their previous roles in order to
make room for those who are younger.
o Older people can take on roles that are more suitable for their physical and
mental state
• What does this theory sound like?
Activity theory
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• Older people benefit themselves and society as a whole if they remain active as long as
possible.
• Positive perceptions of the aging process enable older people to maintain high activity
levels. Negative perceptions work against.
• What does this theory sound like?
Conflict theory
• Older people experience prejudice and discrimination.
o Older people are of less value because they are not as productive and act as a
drain on society
• There are a number of regular inequalities that exist as a result of this prejudice and
discrimination.
Life expectancy
• Life expectancy varies dramatically across the planet.
• In North America, Europe or Australia – averages are around 75+ years
• In Africa – averages are closer to 60 years
• Why?
• Life expectancy is generally on the rise.
• Older populations as a result are increasing.
Variations in life expectancies
• Poverty
• Healthcare
• Infant/Childhood Mortality
Impacts of increased life expectancy
• Increased health care expenditures and social supports
• Increased toll on family members for caregiving and financial support
Inequalities in life expectancy
• Gender
o Women tend to outlive men
• Race/Ethnicity
o Caucasian people tend to live longer than non-Caucasian people
• Social Classes
o Those who are wealthier tend to live longer than those who are poor
Problems facing the elderly
• Elder Care
o Care Options
o Home Care
o Autonomy
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Lecture 3: sequence of individual age-linked experiences over time, linked to social institutions, going to school, getting married, starting a career, saving for a house, having a child, retiring, death. Dimensions of age: chronological, the number of years since someone was born, biological, physical changes that occur as we get older. Deterioration of our bodies: hair turns grey, loss of muscle mass/strength, psychological, changes in our cognitive capacity, or personality, greater risks of depression/dementia, lowered ability to learn and retain knowledge, social, changes in roles and relationships. Social aging examples: wise and experienced versus slow and ineffective, community leader/elder versus curmudgeon, all based entirely on perceptions. Theoretical perspectives on aging: disengagement theory, activity theory, conflict theory. Activity theory: older people benefit themselves and society as a whole if they remain active as long as possible, positive perceptions of the aging process enable older people to maintain high activity levels. In north america, europe or australia averages are around 75+ years.
