Lifespan Development: Chapter 19: Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood

1. Lifespan Development: Chapter 19:  Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood

2. Erikson’s stage: “integrity versus despair” – those in late adulthood reflect on past efforts or do a life review, evaluating and then reinterpreting their lives Disengagement theory states that people gradually withdraw from society as they age; self-preoccupation replaces emotional ties to, and interest in, society (This theory is now dead). As people disengage from society, society disengages from them. Theories of Socioemotional Development

3. The resolution (or lack thereof) of earlier stages can affect the state of integrity in later life.The resolution (or lack thereof) of earlier stages can affect the state of integrity in later life.

4. Robert Peck’s Reworking of Erikson’s Final Stage Suggests 3 developmental tasks of late adulthood: Differentiation vs. role preoccupation: redefining one’s worth in terms of something other than work. Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation: coping with declining physical well-being. Ego transcendence vs. ego preoccupation: realizing one’s contributions to the future thought rearing of children or vocations/ideas while recognizing that death is inevitable and likely not very far away Robert Peck divided Erikson’s final stage of integrity into these three tasks.Robert Peck divided Erikson’s final stage of integrity into these three tasks.

5. Activity theory states that older adults become more active and productive in society; aging successfully makes them more satisfied in society Socioemotional selectivity theory claims older adults seek higher emotional satisfaction as they age by being more selective about their type of social networks – focus is on goals Selective optimization with compensation theory claims successful aging is linked to 3 main factors Selection (those activities that are most important and rewarding) Optimization (selected activities through practice and new technologies) Compensation (for losses by using strategies) Greater overall activity (especially social and productive activity) was related to happiness, better functioning, and lower mortality rate (page 651). Socioemotional selectivity theory says that older adults become more selective about who they spend their time with. They want to see meaningful friends and family, rather than socialize for socializing’s sake. They maximize positive emotional experiences. Adults especially need to compensate in circumstances with high mental or physical demands.Greater overall activity (especially social and productive activity) was related to happiness, better functioning, and lower mortality rate (page 651). Socioemotional selectivity theory says that older adults become more selective about who they spend their time with. They want to see meaningful friends and family, rather than socialize for socializing’s sake. They maximize positive emotional experiences. Adults especially need to compensate in circumstances with high mental or physical demands.

6. In research that compares older and younger adults from diverse samples, older adults report Better control of their emotions More mellowing of feelings Fewer negative emotions Positive connections with friends and family

8. Weakening in old age forces older adults to reduce the scope of their activities Loss is common in old age, and reactions vary according to one’s life history, values, health, and interests Most older adults find life satisfying through attaining meaningful goals As one ages, health becomes the most important personal investment Optimization is more difficult for the oldest-old Young adults were more likely to assess their well-being in terms of accomplishments and careers, whereas older adults were more likely to link well-being with good health and ability to accept change (page 654). See page 655 – showing that over the lifespan, family becomes more important than work (by 35) and eventually health becomes more important than family (by 85).Young adults were more likely to assess their well-being in terms of accomplishments and careers, whereas older adults were more likely to link well-being with good health and ability to accept change (page 654). See page 655 – showing that over the lifespan, family becomes more important than work (by 35) and eventually health becomes more important than family (by 85).

9. Personality in Older Adulthood Adults who were low in conscientiousness and high in neuroticism were likely to die earlier. Older adults with high in negative affect didn’t live as long. Older adults with a positive outlook live longer.

10. Exploration of the self includes focusing on changes in Self-esteem: Increases through 20s, levels off in 30s and 40s, increases considerably in 50s and 60s, drops significantly in 70s and 80s. in men appears to be higher than in women through most of adult years, but converges at age 70–80 Self-acceptance: more realistic about the future and more accepting of the past Personal control: perceptions of having internal locus of control appears to decrease with age Older adults are more likely to change their goal’s to fit a given circumstance (accommodating control strategies) rather than try to change a situation to meet their needs (assimilative control strategies). Ability to control personal life outcomes declines in late adulthood but varies among individuals The Self and Society

12. Older adults are less accepting of their ideal and future selves, but more accepting of their past and present selves.Older adults are less accepting of their ideal and future selves, but more accepting of their past and present selves.

13. Older adults in society are often stereotyped Ageism is a negative form of prejudice Some social policies contribute to stereotyping Some families reject their older members Older members of action groups have gained political clout and lobbying power Social issues associated with aging include Social security and economic stability Medicare and health-care costs

14. Older adults, when compared with younger adults Have more illnesses and doctors’ visits Are hospitalized more often and have longer stays Have more chronic than acute health problems Eldercare can be very stressful for family members and is a very important issue for older adults Generational inequity is a very controversial issue for young and older adults

15. Other concerns for elderly adults include Living in poverty, with minorities affected two or three times more than Whites Living alone: more often women than men Institutional residence and care Retirement income levels

16. Lifestyles of older adults are changing One-third will marry, divorce, and remarry, replacing the traditional marriage that ends only in widowhood Older widows outnumber older widowers 4 to 1 Those married or partnered in late adulthood are happier than those who are single Marital satisfaction is often greater for older women than older men Families and Social Relationships

17. Causes of increase in remarriage by older adults Rising divorce rates Increased longevity Better health About 8% of all older adults have never married An increasing number of older adults cohabit due to social pressures and family sanctions More older adults are in the dating pool and may express their sexuality differently from young adults

18. About 80% of older adults have middle-aged children Childless older adults have more contact with relatives than older adults with children Gender affects relationships between older adults and their children – daughters are three times more available Adult children coordinate and monitor services for aging disabled parents Relationships between adult children and aging parents are both positive and negative

19. As four-generation families become more common, great-grandparenting is not a clearly defined role Young children interact more with grandparents than great-grandparents Sibling relationships are the longest relationships that most experience in a lifetime – sisters being more likely than brothers to maintain family ties

20. Siblings with close family ties tend to feel better about themselves than estranged siblings – most siblings “mellow out” from old grudges Sibling ties tend to be strongest in adulthood Older adults prefer fewer close friends than making new friends – having a best friend lessens depression, especially among married women

21. Friendship with unrelated adults often tends to replace warmth, companionship, and nurturance once traditionally supplied by family Social support and integration of older adults Improves their physical and mental health Reduces symptoms of disease Increases one’s ability to meet health-care needs Decreases risk of institutionalization Women rely more heavily on friends than men

22. Older minority adults, especially African Americans, are over-represented in poverty statistics Double jeopardy exists for older adults in ethnic minorities, but most have developed better coping mechanisms Some older adults in ethnic minorities derive internal satisfaction from their churches and communities Some researchers believe gender role changes in older adults lead to decreased femininity in women and decreased masculinity in men Ethnicity, Gender, and Culture

23. Some evidence shows that older men tend to become more feminine as they age, but women do not become more masculine Older women may face double jeopardy from both ageism and sexism, and triple jeopardy from racism as well if they are members of an ethnic minority Older men tend to disengage from work and other outside-the-home activities, while women tend to engage more in these activities and work African American women show remarkable coping skills, adaptability, and resilience when facing stress

24. Older adults can enjoy high status in a culture if they Have valuable knowledge Control key family/community resources Are allowed to engage in useful/valued functions as long as possible Have role continuity throughout their life span Make age-related role changes that give greater responsibility, authority, and advisory capacity Successful Aging

25. Being an older adult has many positive aspects Older adults’ functioning is the result of better health habits such as Eating a proper diet Having an active lifestyle Engaging in mental stimulation and flexibility Having positive coping skills Having good social relationships and support Avoiding disease Successful aging involves having a sense of self-efficacy and a perceived control of environment