Create a chart to examine the different aging theories. Your chart should:
- Identify six theories of aging:
- Two biological or physiological
- Two sociological
- Two psychological or behavioral theories
- Include a 50-word explanation in which you identify the major components of the theories.
Write a 175- to 350-word response to the following questions:
- Which theory do you think is most widely used?
- Which theory do you most closely agree with as it relates to aging adults?
- How would you use this theory in your work environment?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor responsible for creating assignments for medical college students, one of the crucial elements we need to educate our students on is the process of aging and its different theories. In this assignment, we will create a chart to explore six different aging theories, including two biological or physiological, two sociological, and two psychological or behavioral theories. Additionally, we will provide a response to three questions on these aging theories.
Chart on Aging Theories:
| Aging Theory | Major Components of the Theories |
|——————–|————————————————————————————————–|
| Biological or Physiological Theories | – Free Radical Theory: Cells get damaged due to free radicals which lead to aging.
– Cellular senescence theory: Cells have a limited life span that leads to aging. |
| Sociological Theories | – Disengagement theory: Aging is a process of disengaging from societal roles.
– Activity theory: People who remain active and engaged are healthier and satisfied with life. |
| Psychological or Behavioral Theories | – Psychodynamic Theory: Developmental factors and personality shape the process of aging.
– Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: People age, and their social networks shrink, focussing on close relationships that satisfy emotional needs. |
Response to Questions:
1. The theory that is most widely used is the Disengagement theory. It is used to explain aging as a process of disengaging from societal roles. This theory laid the foundation for many subsequent studies and theories on aging that explained how social relationships change across different ages.
2. The theory that I closely agree with as it relates to aging adults is the Activity theory. According to this theory, people need to remain active and engaged to remain healthy and happy in their old age. As a medical professional, I belief in this theory as it aligns with my clinical practice experience of conducting activities for seniors to maintain their physical and mental health.
3. I would use the Activity theory in my work environment to advocate for cross-age mentoring programs whereby elderly individuals can engage with younger individuals to share their experiences and wisdom. Moreover, I would incorporate various activities, workshops, and seminars to keep seniors active and engaged. This will help improve their quality of life and well-being.
