Preview

2 Theories of Ageing

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
417 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
2 Theories of Ageing
Unit 4: P4.Explain two theories of ageing.

Ageing is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline. The ageing process is inevitable and expected to every person as we grow old. There are different theories of ageing and fall into two types that was developed in order to further understand and described how we age. The first type, social and psychological aspect states that aging is natural and programmed into the body, while the second type is the biological aspect of aging theories say that aging is a result of damage which is accumulated over time.

Disengagement theory, this is the withdrawal of involvement into social activities. According to Henry and Cumming (1961), this is natural for an older person to experience this mostly because elderly people have restricted opportunities to interact with others due to different reasons like their health.

Every person may decline in their physical and mental health as they grow old and loss of social opportunities can be the reason why they disengage into the society, old person can get too tired easily. Retirement is another reason as they lose contact with their colleagues but there are many reasons why people disengage into the society. Everyone expects death, and one's abilities will likely deteriorate over time. As a result, every person will lose ties to others in his or her society.

Genetically programmed theory, it says that our genes determine our life span. People often think that if they have a family member that lived over 100 years is more likely that they may inherit that genes. In this theory, human lifespan is due to inherited differences in our DNA. Our lifestyle, diet, activity, stress, aging and numerous other factors can impact our DNA and the way it functions. Aging, therefore, must be inherit in

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    The process of aging has been around as long as life itself. All living organisms pass through three broad stages from conception to death, which are maturation, maturity and aging. Aging affects everyone because nearly everyone has the potential to grow old and all the societies in which we live have older members (Macdonald, 1997). Gerontology is the use of reason to understand aging. The term was used to refer to the scientific study of aging, but nowadays it includes the study of aging using views from other disciplines such as humanities, social policy and human services. To correctly understand aging, knowledge from a variety of sources is needed, therefore gerontology includes the results of research on aging from all academic disciplines and fields of professional practice. There are four interrelated aspects to the study of aging, which are, physical, psychological, social psychological and social. The study of physical aging examines the causes and consequences of the body’s declining capacity to renew itself and the means for preventing, treating, or compensating for illness or disability caused or related by physical aging (Atchley, 1997). Psychological aging focuses on sensory processes, perception, coordination, mental capacity, human development, personality, and coping ability as they are affected by aging.…

    • 1672 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Agnes is clearly part of disengagement theory because of the lifestyle she leads. She is a widow meaning that she has lost her lifelong partner and has retracted from society meaning she isn’t talking to people and staying active. She has no social life meaning that she has stopped socialising following the disengagement theory. She has also past retirement age so she isn’t staying active at work and keeping her brain mentally healthy so she is more likely to become depressed as she has retreated back into her own world.…

    • 2500 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    unit 4 p5

    • 2171 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In this assignment I will be discussing the physical and psychological changes that are associated with ageing.…

    • 2171 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    One factor of the disengagement theory that can be applied to Mrs Beale is that as she has gotten older, she has started to withdraw from society. She does not regularly see her colleagues or family anymore. Having no contact with anyone would affect Mrs Beale emotionally. This is due to the fact she would feel low and insignificant. Mrs Beale does not take care of her health as she has started to smoke and drink. This may be due to the fact she has no contact with anyone and does not have a social life as she did before. Nonetheless, the disengagement may not apply to Mrs Beale as in her working life she was very active.…

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Unit 4 Task 3

    • 4391 Words
    • 18 Pages

    The Disengagement theory was by Cummings and Henry in 1961 stating that ‘older adults withdraw from participation in activity.’ As well as not participating in activities older people begin to disengage them self in family life and become less involved at events, proffering to watch rather than join in. Cummings felt that this disengagement was beneficial to both family and the individual as it allowed change and acceptance. The Disengagement theory also has the idea that the older person becomes more preoccupied with themselves and are more interested in what they are doing for example going to the doctors than what their friends and family are doing. The causes of disengagement include the advances in technology, older people become disinterested and unable to keep up with the changes and are not willing to change what they already do. Travel also becomes a problem for older people as they worry about going long distances and without a car they have to rely on others and public transport. Ill health of themselves and others in another cause of disengagement as they are either in pain, tired or unwell so do not want to go out to do activities, this is the same as if a friend has these problems they do not want to go to activities alone.…

    • 4391 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    P4 UNIT 4 H&SC

    • 1365 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There are a lot of different factors that contribute to the disengagement theory. Firstly, ill health can affect an elderly person greatly because when they become ill, they may not be able to get around as much due to incidents like poor mobility, restricted hearing and impaired vision will likely stop the person from socialising as much with friends or relatives because they simply cant do things that they used to do anymore because of their illnesses.…

    • 1365 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    M2 Discuss two major theories in ageing in relation to the development of the individual…

    • 2430 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The two theories of ageing that I am going to discuss are the disengagement and the activity theory. The activity theory is the idea that older people benefit from being as active as possible, by taking part in social events or employments. It also states that older adults seem healthier and happier. Individuals…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    P1) During old age individuals start to consider retirement, this means that most of the elderly become less social in the community, however it gives them more social time with individuals who care about them such as friends and family. If the individual had strong connections with family and friends this would be the stage where an individual can feel they are losing bonds. This is because people around your own age or older will start to lose their lives which will end up leaving you with a loss of a close friend or a family member is can lead to heavy depression and upset.…

    • 5226 Words
    • 21 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Activity 1 2

    • 1294 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The disengagement theory is one of the first social theories of ageing developed by Cumming and Henry in 1961. It is the idea of which states older people begin to withdraw or disengage from their past roles in society due to the decrease of their physical, intellectual and emotional abilities and skills which they are unable to accommodate in their roles. Also, at this stage of life, the elderly will eventually begin to diminish interests in activities and hobbies. This leads to inactivity which will further affect physical and emotional development negatively.…

    • 1294 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Disengagement Theory

    • 1747 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Two major theories explain the psychosocial aspects of aging in older adults. Disengagement theory views aging as a process of mutual withdrawal in which older adults voluntarily slow down by retiring, as expected by society. Proponents of disengagement theory hold that mutual social withdrawal benefits both individuals and society. Activity theory, on the other hand, sees a positive correlation between keeping active and aging well. Proponents of activity theory hold that mutual social withdrawal runs counter to traditional American ideals of activity, energy, and industry. To date, research has not shown either of…

    • 1747 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    unit 4

    • 1858 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Changes that occur with the aging process fall into three categories: physical, psychological, and social. As changes begin to happen in one area of a person’s life, it is more likely that the other two will be affected as well. Aging is a process that can affect individuals between Adulthood up to the last stages; symptoms vary depending on factors such as a person’s diet, life choices, personal habits, exercise and psychological factors.…

    • 1858 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Planning and Henry would process the disengage is meant theory as a way of explaining different behaviour and development in old age. They would suggest that when people reach their 60s they begin to disengage from active role in society for a variety of reasons:…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Importance Of Aging

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Human bodies are technically set up for failure. Aging comes naturally. Aging is experienced by most humanity in their lifetime. Everyone ages at their own time and rate but not everyone has same experience. In my paper one will be informed that aging is a major risk factor. Aging often results in changes and lower functioning in the brain, higher rates of diseases, and decrease mobility.…

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The average life expectancy has increased over the last century; the average life expectancy for women is 80 years while men are expected to live to about 75 years old. The population of older adults over the age of 65 years is expected to increase from 35 million in 2000 to 70 million by the year 2030. Aging is a slow decline in the ability of an organism to resist stress, damage, and disease. As the human body ages there are physical and biological changes that occur as well. The lifestyles that we chose to live have a large impact positively and negatively in the way we age. Every aspect of the body changes, from the skeletal system to the muscular to the cardiopulmonary system, even down the integumentary system.…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays