Essay
Explaining the two theories of ageing
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An detailed essay explaining the two theories of ageing to satisfy P4 unit 4 life stages criteria, achieved grade.
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P4: Explain two theories of ageingAgeing and its theories
Each person experiences ageing in different ways, ageing is just part of the life cycle where we are
born, we go through the specific life stages and at a certain point in time we begin to notice the
ageing process and its effects on our lifestyle. This process occurs differently for everyone, the
ageing process depending on the individual can bring age related problems such as diseases and
conditions. However, ageing brings positives such as wisdom, life experience and the development
of self-concept.
P4: Explain two theories of ageing
The disengagement theory:
Firstly, the social disengagement theory was brought together in 1961 by two authors called
Cumming and Henry. They explained that the disengagement theory is a theory that states that
when the elderly age, they withdraw themselves from social interaction with others. They also
stated they become disengaged because of reduced physical health and loss of social opportunities.
Cumming in 1975 argued that as people aged they would not be concerned with the whereabouts of
others and that this reduction process is a natural, appropriate and healthy element to growing old,
as they will be happy being disengaged from others to become an ‘individual’. He also stated that it
is a choice the elderly makes by removing themselves from social engagement, so relatives are
prepared for when they are not around.
This theory was widely accepted in the past as in 1961 due to the people not having advanced
technology like today, there wouldn’t have been much opportunity for social interaction as they may
not have had access to a car or had a phone in their house. Whereas today there is a more wider
range of communication such as the internet, text messaging and phone calls which has the
functionality for the elderly to interact with others. Also, other theories (Zimbardo 1992) have
argued against this thinking as many older people remain socially active so people do not completely
rely on this theory due to the time period it was proposed it.
Bromley accepted the disengagement theory and brought up an argument in 1974 that states
although some individual’s fight the process, disengagement of some kind is due to come around,
simply because old people have neither the physical nor the mental abilities they did when they
were younger. The disengagement theory corresponds well with the ‘springboard theory’ view of
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