Part C (Q9): Explain the psychosocial theories of ageing.

Psychosocial theories of aging attempt to explain how an individual's behavior, social interactions, and mental state change as they grow older. These theories have evolved significantly over time.

1. Disengagement Theory (Cumming and Henry, 1961)

• The Concept: This was one of the earliest theories. It posits that aging involves a natural, mutual, and inevitable "withdrawal" or disengagement between the older person and society.
• The Mechanism: As people age, they realize their physical energy is declining and death is approaching. Consequently, they willingly step back from social roles (like retiring from a career or leading community groups). Simultaneously, society withdraws from the individual, transferring roles and power to younger generations to ensure smooth societal functioning.
• Critique: Modern social workers heavily criticize this theory. It assumes that isolation and inactivity are "natural" and desirable, which can be used to justify age discrimination and ignoring the needs of the elderly.

2. Activity Theory (Havighurst, 1961)

• The Concept: Developed as a direct contradiction to Disengagement Theory. It argues that successful aging occurs when older adults stay active and maintain social interactions.
• The Mechanism: It suggests that the psychological and social needs of the elderly are essentially the same as middle-aged people (excluding biological changes). When older adults lose a role (e.g., through retirement or widowhood), their life satisfaction drops. Therefore, to maintain high morale and mental health, they must replace lost roles with new ones (e.g., replacing a career with volunteering, or a lost spouse with new friends).
• Application: This is a foundational theory for modern geriatric social work, driving the creation of senior citizen clubs, second-career programs, and active aging initiatives.

3. Continuity Theory (Atchley, 1989)

• The Concept: This theory suggests that people do not drastically change their personalities or lifestyles just because they get older. Instead, they try to maintain continuity in their habits, preferences, and relationships.
• The Mechanism: An older adult will use past experiences and coping strategies to adapt to the changes of aging. For example, a person who was always highly social and outgoing will seek out group activities in old age (Activity Theory approach). Conversely, a person who was always introverted and preferred solitary hobbies like reading will happily continue reading in old age and might feel stressed if forced into highly social "active aging" programs.
• Application: Social workers use this to provide individualized care. Interventions should match the person's lifelong personality, not force them into a generic "old age" stereotype.

4. Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development (Ego Integrity vs. Despair)

• The Concept: Erikson proposed that the human lifespan has eight stages, each with a psychological crisis. The final stage, occurring in late adulthood (65+), is the crisis of "Ego Integrity vs. Despair."
• The Mechanism: In this stage, individuals look back on their lives. If they feel they have lived a productive, meaningful life, they achieve Ego Integrity—a sense of wholeness, peace, and acceptance of death. If they look back with regret, feeling they made wrong choices or wasted their time, they fall into Despair—characterized by bitterness, depression, and a paralyzing fear of death.
• Application: Social workers use "Life Review" and "Reminiscence Therapy" to help older adults process past regrets, reframe negative memories, and ultimately achieve Ego Integrity.