Aging Process and Psychosocial Perspectives Assignment (Essay Sample)

Gerontology and Aging
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Natural phenomenon and structures take place autonomously despite the constant undue reaction forces to retain the normal optimum operations. The saying “everything with a beginning has an end” (Powell, 2006) seems to hold outstanding favor regarding aging process of human beings. In a relatively precise history of gerontology, meddling efforts have been injected in theory building. Attributing much work to the early scholars such as Hall in the year 1922, Cowdry (1939), and Linton (1942) among others pioneers, leading to the realization of the ten sociological theories of aging by Passuth and Bengston (Chee, 2012).
My grandfather is the subject of interest in this particular case. He is in his late 80s, but his early years depicted him as fit, energetic, and of sound mind. After a couple of years, he became deprived of much energy, with the less consequent development of breathing difficulties. Regarding the biologists, the above process sounds natural and less of a surprise. However, in sociological perspectives, the theories surrounding this mechanism could be of debate. This is in conjunction with the disengagement theory which has based its arguments on the hypothesis that older people have inevitability decline of age and thus become decreasingly active with the larger (outer) world and become more and more preoccupied with their integral inner lives (Powell, 2001). The disengagement theory is useful to the society as it fosters a systematic transfer of power from old to energetic young lads.
The second emphasis is on the investigation of personality type as an indicator for successful aging. The personality theory of aging and age also justifies the changes in my grandfather’s aging process as it depicts a due process of adjustment in which personality is the key component. Successfully aging individual not just assumes a dynamic part in adjusting to the biological and social changes that happen with the progression of time, additionally in making examples of life that will give him or her most noteworthy sense of ego and life fulfillment. In terms of personality, he was always loving and caring, but he became more of that and consequently started napping more than ever before.
Another difference I noticed social wise: he was very outgoing and social always spent some time at home then leave to be active in the society or just meet with his friends. In the recent years, he started staying at home more, and always wanted to spend more time with the family he continues to lose sense of socialization with his pals and his life became more and more personal. Gerotranscendence theory is the best suited for this social change due to aging process owing to its contradiction to disengagement theory. The theory places much focus on the inner self as a positive characteristic of old age. It represents a consequential transition from materialistic rational to cosmic transcendent perspective. This is mutually accompanied by an upsurge in life satisfaction. Life becomes more personal as one gets to self-actualization according to Maslow’s pyramid (Powell, 2001).
Additionally, his physical life changed progressively hair changed from black, to grey to totally white. His posture leaned a little bit forward instead of standing completely straight and at times he could lose some of his hair, his hearing changed significantly over the years too which is hard, because he always likes to have nice and constructive conversations. This is more biological than a social perspective as the metabolic and cellular degradation takes place as one ages.
Amidist his aging process, some more physical changes occurred that were worrying.It ws my first time to watch someone age. Most...