Aging Theory: Social Disengagement Approach

Aging Theory Persuasive
MJS
University of Phoenix

Aging Theory Persuasive
Theories about becoming old usually begin with ideas or beliefs that an individual has. For example, one may forget that he or she has his or her glasses on top of his or her head. Some might consider this as the memory decreasing because of age. Theoretical scientists, however, must use theories, which were tested by hypotheses and will guide their research (Novak, 2009). One of these theories that many researchers support is the social disengagement theory. There are two levels of theories, which are micro-level and macro-level theories.
Social Disengagement Theory
In 1961 two social
Furthermore, conflict perspective theory combines individual problems to a larger social issue of the state and the economy. Functionalist perspective theory views society as an organism that attempts to remain in equilibrium. Society regulates itself similarly to the way one’s body keeps a steady temperature. Furthermore, functionalist perspective theory clarifies the political changes of large-scale, as well as a small group, will maintain its structure ("Theoretical Perspectives on Aging", 2013). Interpretive perspective theory provides an understanding of how an individual interprets his or her social world, how he or she interacts with others, and why that individual does what he or she does ("Theoretical Perspectives on Aging",
Age stratification theory has a tendency to see society as a homogeneous set of structures and functions that many people in the same age cohort experience in the similar way. Age stratification theory concentrates on the differences between cohorts, but it overlooks the diversity within in the differences ("Theoretical Perspectives on Aging", 2013). In addition, age stratification theory places little focus on how social class, race, gender, and ethnicity may create differences within age cohorts ("Theoretical Perspectives on Aging", 2013).
There are many disadvantages of the conflict perspective theory. One of these disadvantages is that the conflict perspective theory overemphasizes the problems and poverty that the older population faces. The effect of social structures on the aging of an individual is a second disadvantage of the conflict perspective theory. Another disadvantage of the conflict perspective theory is that, it views an individual as the product of social and political forces.
An Application of Social Disengagement