Getting older is the worst fear in an individual’s life and society is there to enhance the fear with its obsession with youth. According to Mitch Alborn, the author of Tuesdays With Morrie, aging is the most widespread phobias of contemporary society. Through the ages, man has searched for various methods and techniques to delay the signs of aging. The industries dealing with anti-aging products are in a highly profitable state because more the life spans more the use of these products.
Most of the countries of the world share the same view regarding the issue of the fear of aging (Alborn, 1997, p.117-118). But it is very unethical that the advertisements of the anti-aging products are always featured on younger-looking people within the age limit of thirty to thirty-five. This is a real problem of society and this paper would evaluate this aspect through parameters of the social-cognitive theories.
According to social-cognitive theorists, observation is the best technique to acquire knowledge that enhances the processing of the human personality. (Weiner et al, 2003, p.216). In other words, people learn new skills by mere observations only. According to Albert Bandura, people learn through three basic patterns, which are observing live models, listening to the words spoken by the model and looking at the symbolic models, and following their whereabouts (Bandura, 1976, p.181).
Among all these the last one that to look at the symbolic models is the most influential to shape the attitudes of people. In any kind of movie, billboard, or advertisement, no person with wrinkles is to be seen. Only the youths represent as if the world belongs to them. This again makes the aging ones more afraid of getting old, whereas in a family the older ones are regarded as the valued members. This contrasting behavior creates uncertainty which again gears the fear of aging.
However, on the personal ground, from the parameters of the cognitive social learning theory, it should be stated that Alborn is successful in evaluating the problem but there is a failure of understanding in this context. Alborn failed to explain the context of media’s ignorance related to aging. It is true that this aspect of aging is related to death but then, death is a reality of life. Nevertheless, media try to avoid issues related to age and it is a fall-out of the modern society’s affection with youth and meaningless embarrassment associated with individuals growing old.
Elderly people require intensive care and attention round the clock, but many of them either do not have anybody in their family to pay attention to them or their family members are too busy to do so. Being a primary caregiver for an elder can be a difficult job. The hours are time-consuming and it can be a wearisome and anxiety-provoking duty, for even the most enduring person. However, society and media seem to bracket this aspect as a completely welfare-related clause and isolate this aspect of reality. Thus, the perception of age is never well-received by the community and there is such a fear related to aging.
From a marketing or financial point of view, the same truth is understandable. The elderly population lacks purchasing power, which, incidentally, is the driving force of any marketing company. Thus, it can be seen, even in this criterion, the elderly population fails to gather the attention that is required. Society watches this from a distance. It understands the problem and becomes cautious about the problem.
However, the solution to this problem is a tendency to remain ignorant about the issue of aging and it can well be stated that this ignorance corresponds to a phobia of the unknown. This is unknown if the condition of an individual’s old age and therefore there is an aspect of phobia related to old age. This is an extremely shameful malady but it is reality and Alborn rightly noted the initial problem related to the issue of old age phobia.
So, whatever Alborn said, needs explanation as it is not all-encompassing the fact behind the real reason of the phenomenon of aging, and the society’s urge to conceal the process. It is the ignorance of the people of our society regarding the fear of aging and in many cases, this is related to the ideas of incapability of one’s physical activities and looking after oneself. Being aged a man either loses mental strength or tries to keep himself detached from the company of others. The very idea of aging instantly gives vent to the idea of death which is more fearful and it threatens the survival of that person.
So aging is highly related to the idea of death which is the ultimate truth and also the vent for the phobia of aging. According to Alborn, the idea which rules the world is being young and looking young. But his explanation is not complete because there are other points to be discussed based on the current socio structure and religious beliefs.
References
Alborn, M. (1997). Tuesdays with Morrie: An old man, a young man, and life’s greatest lesson. New York: Doubleday.
Bandura, A. (1976). Social learning theory. Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Weiner, I., Freedheim, D., Millon, T., Learner, M. (2003). Handbook of psychology: personality and social psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.