Theory Of Aging Essay

Studies have shown that over half of the older adults in developed countries are showing normal aging habits, and that about 25 % of those are classified as optimal agers. Among those lifestyle habits associated with healthy, successful or optimal aging include eating healthy, getting regular exercise, having healthy life routines, and the life. The process of aging cannot be simply defined as the passage of time. Aging itself is the living manifestation of those biological events that occur over a certain span of time. Nonetheless, there is not a clear or perfect definition of aging. Theories of aging generally relate to either the process of aging itself, or with those medical issues that are encountered by the aging adult. These theories …show more content…
From a psychosocial point of view, aging is defined as the transformation of the human being after a life of physical maturity, where the probabilities of survival decrease. This is a period of life which is accompanied by regular transformations in appearance, behavior, social roles, and experiences. At the same time, it is during this stage of the life of the individual where the disuse of previously acquired skills is more evident. As a result, the individual experiences losses in internal and external resources, as well as the ability to easily adapt to environmental and social changes. Due to this, as the individual grows older, his behavior changes, along with his social interactions, as well as the activities in which he engages in.
There are four psychosocial theories that discuss the process of aging: the disengagement theory; the activity theory; the various life course theories; and the continuity theory. The disengagement theory refers to the inevitable process in which most of the relationships between an individual and other members of society are severed, and in those remaining, there is a modification in the quality of the relationship. Social withdrawal may be initiated either by the aging