The Social Realities of The Social Realities of AgingAging

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My heart leaps up when I beholdMy heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began;So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man;So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old,So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die!Or let me die!

The Child is father of the Man;The Child is father of the Man; I could wish my days to be I could wish my days to be

Bound each to each by natural piety. Bound each to each by natural piety. William Wordsworth, 1802.William Wordsworth, 1802.

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““Show me the boy at age 7, and I will Show me the boy at age 7, and I will show you the man.”show you the man.”• Is the child the father of the man?Is the child the father of the man?

Agree or disagree? Why?Agree or disagree? Why?

Influences on development? Types?Influences on development? Types?

Hand in Activity Sheet Hand in Activity Sheet • Make sure you write your nameMake sure you write your name

Milestones and Tasks of Milestones and Tasks of Adulthood?Adulthood?

Adolescence and Young AdulthoodAdolescence and Young Adulthood• 12-20 years12-20 years• 20-40 years20-40 years

Middle AdulthoodMiddle Adulthood• 40-65 years40-65 years

Late AdulthoodLate Adulthood• 65+ yrs65+ yrs

Life-Span developmentLife-Span development

lifelong process lifelong process both increases and decreases, and both increases and decreases, and

gains and losses, in behaviour gains and losses, in behaviour Is modifiable or reversible: plasticityIs modifiable or reversible: plasticity Multidimensional, multidirectional, Multidimensional, multidirectional,

multicausalmulticausal Multiple cultural, social, historical Multiple cultural, social, historical

contextscontexts

Domains of Adult DevelopmentDomains of Adult Development

Physical, cognitive, personality, Physical, cognitive, personality, socialsocial

PhysicalPhysical• Concepts of agingConcepts of aging• Structural and functional change over Structural and functional change over

timetime• Reserve capacity: “over-engineered”Reserve capacity: “over-engineered”

CognitiveCognitive• Declines in some domainsDeclines in some domains

Memory, timingMemory, timing

• Gains in others Gains in others Wisdom, expertise, post-formal thinkingWisdom, expertise, post-formal thinking

PersonalityPersonality• Intimacy, generativity, integrationIntimacy, generativity, integration

SocialSocial• Tasks of development?Tasks of development?

Successful AgingSuccessful Aging• Increased period of health and activity Increased period of health and activity

in later years (thriving)in later years (thriving)• Decreased period of decline and Decreased period of decline and

disabilitydisability

Social Realities of AgingSocial Realities of Aging

Demography of AgingDemography of Aging

• World TrendsWorld Trends

• ModernizationModernization

• GlobalizationGlobalization increased influence of events, trends increased influence of events, trends

happening elsewherehappening elsewhere

Increased aging populationIncreased aging population

Number countries with more than 2 Number countries with more than 2 million elderly (65+)million elderly (65+)• 1991: 271991: 27• 2020: 49 (projected)2020: 49 (projected)

Projection 1985-2025Projection 1985-2025• Greatest expansion of elderly in Greatest expansion of elderly in

developing countriesdeveloping countries• Canada: 135 % increaseCanada: 135 % increase

Population PyramidPopulation Pyramid

Approaching rectangular shape in Approaching rectangular shape in CanadaCanada

Subpopulations differ Subpopulations differ • E.g. NunavutE.g. Nunavut

IncomeIncome• Drops (retirement)Drops (retirement)• Females < MalesFemales < Males

OccupationOccupation• Significant percentage over 65 years Significant percentage over 65 years

continue workingcontinue working

Faster growth in aging population in Faster growth in aging population in Canada than U.S.Canada than U.S.

Immigration (adults)Immigration (adults) Increased life expectancyIncreased life expectancy Declining birthrateDeclining birthrate

• 1960: 31.4 births/1,000 persons1960: 31.4 births/1,000 persons• 1994: 13.4 births/1,000 persons1994: 13.4 births/1,000 persons

Proportion of elderly in CanadaProportion of elderly in Canada• (1992): 12 percent(1992): 12 percent• (2000): 13 percent (15% in Manitoba)(2000): 13 percent (15% in Manitoba)

Challenges?Challenges?• Assisted livingAssisted living• AgeismAgeism

AgeismAgeism

Stereotyped attitudes toward elderly Stereotyped attitudes toward elderly by younger groupsby younger groups

Limits to human opportunityLimits to human opportunity Interacts with other sources of Interacts with other sources of

stereotypingstereotyping• gendergender• ethnicityethnicity• SESSES

Myths/MisconceptionsMyths/Misconceptionsabout Agingabout Aging

poor healthpoor health low incomelow income lonelinessloneliness limited occupationslimited occupations poor housingpoor housing

Institutional ChallengesInstitutional Challenges

curriculum materialscurriculum materials

coursework in professional programscoursework in professional programs

TV, popular culture, advertisingTV, popular culture, advertising

Professional attitudesProfessional attitudes

Research interest/biasResearch interest/bias

Clinicians’ preferencesClinicians’ preferences

HomogenizationHomogenization

InfantalizationInfantalization

Elder Abuse/NeglectElder Abuse/Neglect

physicalphysical psychologicalpsychological financialfinancial

Ideas and IssuesIdeas and Issues

Influences on DevelopmentInfluences on Development Lifespan developmentLifespan development

• Domains of developmentDomains of development Changing demographicsChanging demographics ChallengesChallenges Need for more information about Need for more information about

development in adulthooddevelopment in adulthood

Research in Adult Research in Adult DevelopmentDevelopment

Goals of ResearchGoals of Research

Description (age-related change)Description (age-related change) Prediction (correlations)Prediction (correlations) Understanding (causes of change)Understanding (causes of change) Control Control

• TherapyTherapy• GuidanceGuidance

Research processResearch process

1. Theory/observation generates 1. Theory/observation generates hypothesishypothesis

2. Hypothesis “operationalized” 2. Hypothesis “operationalized”

3. Method designed, results collected3. Method designed, results collected

4. Hypothesis confirmed or rejected4. Hypothesis confirmed or rejected

5. Confidence in theory is increased or 5. Confidence in theory is increased or decreased (modified theory)decreased (modified theory)

Challenges of Studying AdultsChallenges of Studying Adults

No “captive audience”No “captive audience”

Sampling problems (external validity Sampling problems (external validity – Generalizability)– Generalizability)• Cohort effectsCohort effects• Selective attritionSelective attrition

Tools to assess behaviourTools to assess behaviour• Age-appropriate?Age-appropriate?

ValidityValidity ConstructConstruct

• Measure reflects what is true about the Measure reflects what is true about the target characteristictarget characteristic

IQ test norms don’t always cover entire life IQ test norms don’t always cover entire life spanspan

Internal (causality)Internal (causality)• Necessary conditions:Necessary conditions:

Correlation between traitsCorrelation between traits Time-ordering (cause before effect)Time-ordering (cause before effect) No alternative explanations (experimental No alternative explanations (experimental

control)control)

ReliabilityReliability

Consistency of resultsConsistency of results• If study repeated on same individuals, If study repeated on same individuals,

expect similar resultsexpect similar results• Test-retest Test-retest • Inter-observer (if more than one “judge” Inter-observer (if more than one “judge”

of behaviour)of behaviour)

Data CollectionData Collection

ObservationObservation• Naturalistic (real world, no control, Naturalistic (real world, no control,

reactivity)reactivity)• Laboratory (control, artificial)Laboratory (control, artificial)

Self-ReportsSelf-Reports• Surveys, questionnairesSurveys, questionnaires• Easy, quick, but Easy, quick, but

Social desirability, demand characteristicsSocial desirability, demand characteristics

Case Study, ArchivalCase Study, Archival• Rich informationRich information• Retrospective, limited generalizabilityRetrospective, limited generalizability

Research DesignsResearch Designs

CorrelationCorrelation• Relationships between traitsRelationships between traits• predictionprediction

ExperimentationExperimentation• Internal validity: random allocation to Internal validity: random allocation to

treatment/placebotreatment/placebo• causalitycausality

Developmental DesignsDevelopmental Designs

Test for effects:Test for effects:• AgeAge• CohortCohort• HistoryHistory

LongitudinalLongitudinal• Developmental changeDevelopmental change• Age effectsAge effects

• Time, expenseTime, expense• ConfoundsConfounds

Selective attritionSelective attrition History (events between testing periods)History (events between testing periods)

Cross-sectionalCross-sectional• Developmental differences (between Developmental differences (between

age groups)age groups)• Age effectsAge effects

• Inexpensive, quickInexpensive, quick• Potential confoundsPotential confounds

Cohort effectsCohort effects

Sequential DesignsSequential Designs

Check on confoundsCheck on confounds• Selection (cohort)Selection (cohort)• History (events/changes between test History (events/changes between test

times)times)• Testing (practice)Testing (practice)

Time of TestingTime of TestingBirthBirth

(cohort)(cohort)19801980 19901990 20002000 20102010

19301930 5050 6060 7070 8080

19401940 4040 5050 6060 7070

19501950 3030 4040 5050 6060

19601960 3030 4040 5050

19701970 3030 4040

Age Effects: LongitudinalAge Effects: Longitudinal

BirthBirth 19801980 19901990 20002000 20102010

19301930 5050 6060 7070 8080

19401940 4040 5050 6060 7070

19501950 3030 4040 5050 6060

19601960 3030 4040 5050

19701970 3030 4040

Age Effects: Cross-SectionalAge Effects: Cross-Sectional

BirthBirth 19801980 19901990 20002000 20102010

19301930 5050 6060 7070 8080

19401940 4040 5050 6060 7070

19501950 3030 4040 5050 6060

19601960 3030 4040 5050

19701970 3030 4040

Cohort EffectsCohort Effects

BirthBirth 19801980 19901990 20002000 20102010

19301930 5050 6060 7070 8080

19401940 4040 5050 6060 7070

19501950 3030 4040 5050 6060

19601960 3030 4040 5050

19701970 3030 4040

History EffectsHistory Effects

BirthBirth 19801980 19901990 20002000 20102010

19301930 5050 6060 7070 8080

19401940 4040 5050 6060 7070

19501950 3030 4040 5050 6060

19601960 3030 4040 5050

19701970 3030 4040

TheoryTheory

Theoretical ApproachesTheoretical Approaches

MechanisticMechanistic OrganismicOrganismic ContextualContextual

Nature-Nurture interactionsNature-Nurture interactions Stage/continuousStage/continuous Many paths/universalMany paths/universal

World ViewsWorld Views MechanisticMechanistic

• Nurture: environment, life Nurture: environment, life circumstancescircumstances

• ContinuousContinuous• Individual – many paths, all experience Individual – many paths, all experience

is uniqueis unique

OrganismicOrganismic• NatureNature• StageStage• UniversalUniversal

ContextualContextual• Nature and nurture interactNature and nurture interact

Development as product of biology, Development as product of biology, environment, historic influencesenvironment, historic influences

• Stage and continuousStage and continuous• Universal and individualUniversal and individual

Domains of DevelopmentDomains of Development

Personality/SocialPersonality/Social• Mechanistic: traitMechanistic: trait

McCrea & Costa: “Big Five” personality traitsMcCrea & Costa: “Big Five” personality traits

• Organismic:Organismic: Erikson: psychodynamicErikson: psychodynamic Levinson: stages of lifeLevinson: stages of life

• Life transitionsLife transitions

• ContextualContextual Bronfenbrenner: Ecological Systems theoryBronfenbrenner: Ecological Systems theory

CognitiveCognitive• MechanisticMechanistic

Learning, social learning theoryLearning, social learning theory Information processingInformation processing

• OrganismicOrganismic Piaget: Cognitive developmentalPiaget: Cognitive developmental

• ContextualContextual Vygotsky: social cognitiveVygotsky: social cognitive Bronfenbrenner: ecological systemsBronfenbrenner: ecological systems

Personality DevelopmentPersonality Development

Contextual approachContextual approach

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems TheoryTheory

• Biological, cognitive, emotional, social Biological, cognitive, emotional, social elements intertwinedelements intertwined

• Reciprocal interactions of influence on Reciprocal interactions of influence on developmentdevelopment

• Microsystem: face-to-face dyads, Microsystem: face-to-face dyads, institutionsinstitutions

• Mesosystem: interactions between Mesosystem: interactions between microsystemsmicrosystems

Exosystem: committees, institutionsExosystem: committees, institutions• No direct contact with individualNo direct contact with individual• Community: child-care support for lone Community: child-care support for lone

parent (effects?)parent (effects?)

Macrosystem: cultural beliefs, valuesMacrosystem: cultural beliefs, values• Social classSocial class• Blueprint for other levelsBlueprint for other levels

Personality Personality DevelopmentDevelopment

PersonalityPersonality

Essence of personEssence of person• Unique identityUnique identity• Distinctive patterns of behaviour, Distinctive patterns of behaviour,

thought, emotions in adapting to thought, emotions in adapting to situationssituations

Inferred from behaviourInferred from behaviour• Structure of mind, emotionsStructure of mind, emotions• Adaptation – situations, eventsAdaptation – situations, events• Generalizations about selfGeneralizations about self

Self schema, locus of controlSelf schema, locus of control Stable/changeable?Stable/changeable?

Personality DevelopmentPersonality Development

Maintaining stable concept of selfMaintaining stable concept of self Consistent with age-related Consistent with age-related

“transpositions” required by social “transpositions” required by social demands and individual’s demands and individual’s expectationsexpectations• Erik EriksonErik Erikson

Origins of PersonalityOrigins of Personality

InheritenceInheritence ExperienceExperience

TemperamentTemperament• Innate dispositionsInnate dispositions• Inherited ability to adapt (easygoing, Inherited ability to adapt (easygoing,

resistant, slow to warm up, etc.)resistant, slow to warm up, etc.)• Genetic component (shyness, Genetic component (shyness,

leadership)leadership)

Environmental InfluencesEnvironmental Influences

Twin studies: significant variation Twin studies: significant variation due to differences in experiencedue to differences in experience

Interacts with temperament Interacts with temperament (disposition reinforced by parents’ (disposition reinforced by parents’ responses)responses)

Models of Adult PersonalityModels of Adult Personality

Stability or Change?Stability or Change?

StageStage• OrganismicOrganismic• Universal sequence of developmentUniversal sequence of development• Individuals show predictable changeIndividuals show predictable change

TraitTrait• MechanisticMechanistic• Focus on attributes, temperamentFocus on attributes, temperament• Reduce personality to basic elementsReduce personality to basic elements• Individual shows stabilityIndividual shows stability

Timing of EventsTiming of Events• ContextualContextual• Change not age-relatedChange not age-related

Depends on circumstances and events in the Depends on circumstances and events in the individual’s lifeindividual’s life

Stage ModelsStage Models

Normative personality changeNormative personality change• Common to everyoneCommon to everyone• Recognize individual variation, butRecognize individual variation, but

Successive periodsSuccessive periods• Marked by “crises,” “transitions,” or “life Marked by “crises,” “transitions,” or “life

tasks”tasks”• Occur at about the same age for allOccur at about the same age for all

EriksonErikson

Development through the life spanDevelopment through the life span Balance positive and negative Balance positive and negative

tendenciestendencies Eight critical stages (crises)Eight critical stages (crises) Successful resolution results in Successful resolution results in

emergence of a “virtue”emergence of a “virtue” Four stages in adolescence to Four stages in adolescence to

adulthood (identity, intimacy, adulthood (identity, intimacy, generativity, integrity)generativity, integrity)

Identity/Identity Confusion (stage 5)Identity/Identity Confusion (stage 5) adolescenceadolescence develop concept of selfdevelop concept of self integrate past with future directionintegrate past with future direction

Intimacy vs Isolation (stage 6)Intimacy vs Isolation (stage 6) 20’s – 30’s20’s – 30’s tolerant acceptance of otherstolerant acceptance of others develop cooperative, affiliative develop cooperative, affiliative

relationshipsrelationships

Generativity vs. Stagnation (stage 7)Generativity vs. Stagnation (stage 7) 40 – 6540 – 65 personal concern about otherspersonal concern about others outward focus, mentoringoutward focus, mentoring productivity, contributingproductivity, contributing

Integrity vs. Despair (stage 8)Integrity vs. Despair (stage 8) 65 +65 + reflect positive qualities from earlier reflect positive qualities from earlier

stages (trust, autonomy, industry, stages (trust, autonomy, industry, identity)identity)

integrate past experience with integrate past experience with current realities, produce “wisdom”current realities, produce “wisdom”

self-acceptance self-acceptance

Criticisms of Stage TheoriesCriticisms of Stage Theories

Overemphasis on chronological ageOveremphasis on chronological age• Masks individual variabilityMasks individual variability

No clear markers to denote start or No clear markers to denote start or finish of a stagefinish of a stage

Deviations from norm may Deviations from norm may mistakenly be seen as mistakenly be seen as maladjustmentmaladjustment

Downplay sociohistorical contextDownplay sociohistorical context

CriticismsCriticisms

Meaning of time and age confusedMeaning of time and age confused• Multiple meanings of ageMultiple meanings of age• FunctionalFunctional• BiologicalBiological• PsychologicalPsychological• SocialSocial• Increased desynchrony between time Increased desynchrony between time

and aspects of age over life spanand aspects of age over life span Chronological age poorer predictor later in Chronological age poorer predictor later in

lifelife

Western orientationWestern orientation• Distinctions between “individualist” and Distinctions between “individualist” and

“collectivist” ignored“collectivist” ignored