PSY 2114 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Whocares, New Approach, Relyon

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 2114
• Professor: Wendy Lee

Document Summary

Chapter 16 social aspects of later life: Continuity theory = view that people tend to cope w daily life in late adulthood in essentially the same way they coped in earlier periods of life. Aging successfully involves maintaining connection b/w past + present. Continuity represents an evolution, not complete break w past. Too little continuity: results in feeling that life = too unpredictable: 2. Too much continuity: create boredom bc life = too predictable: 3. Optimal continuity: just enough changes to be challenging + provide interest but not so much as to overly tax one"s resources. Alzheimer"s disease destroys it as it strips away one"s identity: external continuity: remembered physical/social enviros, role relationships + activities. People feels external continuity from being in familiar enviros/w familiar ppl: external discontinuity can have consequences for adaption. Continuity theory provides framework for understanding how friendships in late life provide a way for older adults to maintain connections w people.