Gero%300:%Micro,Theories%in%Aging%,,%Summary%Table%
!
%
Disengagement%Theory%
%
%
Activity%Theory%
%
Continuity%Theory%
Highlights%
• old!age!is!different!than!middle!age!!!!
• natural!and!voluntary!withdrawal!of!!!!!
individual!and!society!
• decreasing!interaction!with!others!
• mortality!effect!
• older!adults!do!not!necessarily!have!to!
be!active!and!productive!!
!
• continued!need!and!benefit!from!
activities!!
• “successful!aging”!means!active!aging!
• extension!of!adult!life! !
• new!roles,!friends!and!activities!
should!replace!lost!ones!!
• “activity!and!roles”!effect!self;concept!
• positive!self;concept!effect!positively!
on!life!satisfaction!
!
Internal(Continuity(
• remembered!structure:!ideas,!
experiences,!affect,!skills,!etc.!
• requires!memory!
!
External(Continuity(
• role!performance,!activities,!
relationships!
• continuity!is!an!adaptive!
strategy!
!
•!Continuity!of!activities!
•!Continuity!of!relationships!
•!Continuity!of!environment!
!
Critique%
• disengagement!is!not!universal!or!
inevitable!
• different!types!of!disengagement!(e.g.,!
physical!activities,!mental!
engagement)!!
• intrinsic!(biological!versus!social)?!
!
•!New!activity!may!not!replace!the!old!
activity,!i.e.,!quality!or!personal!
meaning!of!activities/roles!is!not!
acknowledged!
•!Psycho;social!needs!may!change!in!
later!life,!i.e.,!urge!to!focus!more!on!
inner/spiritual!growth!
•!Resources!vary!across!socio;economic!
groups!effecting!level!of!activity!
• Suggests!that!mid;life!is!the!standard!
for!later!life!
!
•!Resources!vary!across!socio;!!
economic!groups!effecting!
level!of!continuity!
• Suggests!that!mid;life!is!the!
standard!for!later!life!
!
