Introduction
Life at different age stages is characterized by specific physical and mental markers. With regard to old age, personal qualities and experiences acquired during life largely determine the worldview. At the same time, mental health can be transformed under the influence of pathological changes in the psyche, as well as the environment and lifestyle of the individual. This work is aimed at revealing my personal views on the aspects of personality, cognition, and physical state of old age and assessing the theoretical background that describes the relevant states and their prerequisites.
Personal Views
While taking into account the available information offered by national agencies and other authoritative sources, I have formed my personal views on the characteristics of life in old age. For instance, given the statistics presented by Lally and Valentine-French (2017), I clearly understand that the average life expectancy of males is lower than that of females. This, in turn, has formed my opinion that men are more susceptible to dangerous diseases and tend to turn to medical specialists for qualified help less often. At the same time, I hold the view that closer to old age, regardless of gender, those people retain a clear mind who have been actively working mentally throughout their lives.
Regarding the physical condition, I have formed my personal views on life expectancy. By focusing on official statistics, which confirm that after 65, the number of hospital admissions and death cases is growing steadily, I have set a critical age threshold for myself – 85 years (Lally & Valentine-French, 2017, p. 378). This is pleasant to know that the majority of centenarians live in the US, but based on global statistics, I know that in Japan, this indicator per capita is significantly higher (Lally & Valentine-French, 2017). Such statistics confirm my idea that lifestyle directly affects health and longevity, and to stay lucid and within one’s own physical abilities, following certain life habits is a crucial prerequisite.
Theories of Old Age
After studying the relevant theoretical background, I have expanded my knowledge of the principles and impacts that affect older age. One of the relevant concepts is Erikson’s stage model, which considers old age as a period in which “biopsychosocial integrity” is lost (Sekowski, 2022). At this stage, a person perceives inevitable death for granted, and for me, this is a significant discovery. Fear of death is characteristic of an earlier age, and it is possible that at the last stage, a person acquires enough wisdom and strength to recognize and come to terms with the final outcome.
Another concept that resembles that of Erikson but is an extended version of it is Peck’s theory. As Turner (2018) notes, when describing old age, Peck provides specific developmental tasks – “ego differentiation versus work-role preoccupation,” “body transcendence versus body preoccupation,” and “ego transcendence versus ego preoccupation” (p. 258). These nuances emphasize older people’s special attitude to their age. For me, this classification has helped highlight specific personality types and, therefore, expanded my understanding of life during this age period.
Levinson’s theory of adult development is similar to the two above since it also considers age stages as parts of the human lifespan. Zacher and Froidevaux (2021) analyze this concept and give its key provisions: life develops in specific periods in which a person acquires the appropriate skills, forms psychological and behavioral patterns, and adapts to the environment. I have found out that the last period begins at 60, and this is surprising because, for me, the psychological threshold of old age is higher. However, my views concern the subjective perception of adulthood, while the author of the theory pays attention to cognitive and behavioral characteristics.
Finally, Neugarten’s theory is another concept that reviews aging and its peculiarities. Momtaz et al. (2021) cite this model and describe it as the one that emphasizes the principles required for optimal aging. Particularly, according to the concept, a high level of activity positively correlates with life satisfaction, and low activity, in turn, is associated with dissatisfaction (Momtaz et al., 2021). Such an idea corresponds to my thoughts about old age and describes my understanding of the psychological and physical state. If a person is not ready to put up with the problems of old age, there is less likelihood of developing disorders and life challenges.
Conclusion
My personal assessment of the aspects of personality, cognition, and physical state of old age and comparison of my views with those proposed in the relevant theories help highlight the characteristic nuances of aging. The four concepts discussed are similar in their descriptions of the principles that older people adhere to in their life and the classification of life stages. When I am old, I will do my best to keep my mind clear. I intend to engage in intellectual work and not fall out of society. I will interact with relatives and peers to have a wide social circle. I will also try to lead an active lifestyle to prevent dissatisfaction with life.
References
Lally, M., & Valentine-French, S. (2017). Lifespan development: A psychological perspective (2nd ed.). University of Illinois.
Momtaz, Y. A., Mahmoudi, N., & Zanjari, N. (2021). Why do people fear of aging? A theoretical framework.Advances in Gerontology, 11(2), 121-125. Web.
Sekowski, M. (2022). Attitude toward death from the perspective of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial ego development: An unused potential. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 84(3), 935-957. Web.
Turner, A. (2018). Fulfillment versus fulfilling a life’s mission: Aging in psychosocial theory and Judaism. EC Psychology and Psychiatry, 7, 255-60.
Zacher, H., & Froidevaux, A. (2021). Life stage, lifespan, and life course perspectives on vocational behavior and development: A theoretical framework, review, and research agenda.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 126, 103476. Web.