(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 16 Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood PowerPoints developed by Nicholas Greco IV, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Erikson’s Final Stage  Integrity versus despair -- reflecting on the past and either piecing together a positive view (integrity) or concluding that one’s life has not been well spent (despair)  Life review is an essential piece of this final stage  Life review -- looking back at one’s life experiences, evaluating them, interpreting and reinterpreting their significance

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Activity Theory  Activity theory -- the more active and involved that older adults are, the more likely they are to be satisfied with their lives  Successful aging is associated with being active, energetic, and productive  Good experience with aging relates to continuing early adult roles or finding substitutes that keep them active and involved

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Socioemotional Selectivity Theory  Socioemotional selectivity theory -- older adults become more selective about their social networks  Spend more time with familiar individuals with whom they have rewarding relationships  Challenges the stereotype that older adults are in emotional despair and isolation

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Selective Optimization with Compensation Theory  Selective optimization with compensation theory -- successful aging is linked with three main factors: selection, optimization, and compensation selection -- older adults have a reduced capacity and loss of functioning optimization -- it is possible to maintain performance in some areas through practice and use of new technologies

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Selective Optimization with Compensation Theory compensation -- becomes relevant when life tasks require a level of capacity beyond the current circumstances  Effective when people pursue successful outcomes

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Stereotyping of Older Adults  Ageism -- prejudice against others because of their age  Increased numbers living longer and healthier serve to debunk the stereotypes  Policy Issues -- health care costs, caring for patients with chronic disease, eldercare

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Eldercare  Eldercare -- physical and emotional caretaking of older members of the family  Traditionally done by middle-aged women in the family  With so many women in the workforce, concern arises regarding who will be the caregivers

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Lifestyle Diversity  Lifestyles of older adults are changing  Married older adults are happier and live longer than those who are single  There are social, financial, and physical consequences of divorce for older adults  Divorce weakens kinship ties  Negative social sanctions for elders who remarry

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cohabitation  Increasing numbers  Goals are primarily for companionship  Not marrying allows for retention of personal assets

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Older Adult Parents and Their Adult Children  Adult children are an important part of the social network  Gender plays an important role -- adult daughters are more likely to be involved than adult sons  Adult children coordinate and monitor services

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Friendship  People choose close friends over new friends as they grow older  Friends are associated with contentment  Friends may be more important than family in predicting mental health

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Social Convoy Model  Social convoy model -- individuals go through life embedded in a social network of individuals from whom they give and receive social support  Social support enhances coping skills  Being lonely and socially isolated is a significant health risk

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Altruism and Volunteerism  Older adults “give” more frequently than they “take”  Volunteering as an older adult is associated with a number of positive outcomes higher satisfaction less depression and anxiety

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Ethnicity  Minority elderly are over-represented among the poor  Double jeopardy -- they face both ageism and racism  History of less education, underemployment, poor housing conditions, shorter life expectancy than Whites  Strong coping mechanisms (e.g., church membership, family support for elders)

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Gender  Elders -- more pronounced in males than females -- become more androgynous  Double jeopardy for older women who face ageism and sexism  Poverty increased for elderly females  Minority females face triple jeopardy -- ageism, sexism, and racism

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Culture  These factors predict status of older adults in a culture Have valuable knowledge Control key family/community resources Permitted to engage in useful functions Role changes involve more responsibility and authority Participation in extended family Respect for older adults may be greater

(c) 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Successful Aging  Even with disease, improvements in medicine mean older adults can still lead active constructive lives  Being active is especially important  Success involves perceived control of the environment (self-efficacy)