Late Adulthood

                             Some Theories in late Adulthood

Basically two theories that will be analyzed in this paper are the Continuity Theory and the Disengagement Theory. Both theories are interwoven in the sense that, they both describe how people develop in late adulthood. Also, these two theories describe how the aging adjust and adapt with the changes in old age.

            The Continuity Theory holds that, in making adaptive choices, middle-aged and older adults attempt to preserve and maintain existing internal and external structures; and they prefer to accomplish this objective by using strategies tied to their past experiences of themselves and their social world. In another word, this theory maintains that one must keep the same habits that one had in the past in order to have a healthy and dignified aging process. Some of these habits include how one eats, type of lifestyle pursued and even social relationships. Furthermore, Continuity theory has been used in understanding adjustment to retirement as well as work ability, with the aging.  This perspective is important in light of the recent development in workforce participation of older employees and the trend toward early exit from working life. Overall the theory stipulates that individuals who are aging successfully continue habits, preferences, lifestyle, and relationships through midlife and later.

Another theory that is closely related to the Continuity theory is the Disengagement theory. The main premise of disengagement is that there is a loss of roles and energy due to age that makes people to long to be dismissed from their social expectations of productivity and competitiveness. Disengagement is an adaptive behavior that allows for the maintenance of a sense of worth and tranquility while performing peripheral social roles. This theory also explains an orderly way of transferring power from one generation to the next. The disengagement process is mutual and has positive consequences for both society and the individual. The belief is that social services should not empower the older adult but assist and encourage their withdrawal from society.

Both Theories seek to explain how people adjust and cope with the development of old age. However, Continuity theory is more appealing, since it maintains that the old can continue with a healthy lifestyle in order to cope with the aging process. On the other hand Disengagement theory states that people will withdraw from their community and be closer only to their significant family members. Eventually this might lead to some degree of isolation and loneliness.

References

 Ashford, J., & LeCroy, C. (2013). Infancy. In Human behavior in the social environment: A multidimensional perspective (5th ed., p. 599-600).

 Belmont, CA: Jon-David Hague. Kowalczyk, K. (n.d.). Psychosocial Theories of Aging: Activity Theory, Continuity Theory & Disengagement Theory. Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/psychosocial-theories-of-aging-activity-theory-continuity-theory-disengagement-theory.html