![]() ![]() They both help people adapt to the changing context of their lives and set objectives. Internal and external structures of continuityĪccording to Atchley (1971 1989), there are internal and external structures of continuity. Reserved people might prefer silent, solitary activities instead.įor another key theory of aging, consult our piece on the age stratification theory. Continuity theory would recognize that outgoing people are bound to enjoy active group tasks.Activity theory would try to get old people necessarily involved in social activities.It took a more nuanced approach to normal and positive aging. Continuity theory built upon activity theory. The more “active” one person is, the better they age.Īn individual’s activities should be reflective of previous activities, learning, and associated tasks.īoth theories describe biopsychosocial mechanisms for positive aging. Learning, acting, and adapting in later adulthood are based on prior experience (Diggs, 2008). “in making adaptive choices, middle-aged and older adults attempt to preserve and maintain existing internal and external structures and they prefer to accomplish this objective by using strategies tied to their past experiences of themselves and their social world.Ĭhange is linked to the person’s perceived past, producing continuity in inner psychological characteristics as well as in social behavior and in social circumstances.Ĭontinuity is thus a grand adaptive strategy that is promoted by both individual preference and social approval.” (Atchley, 1989) Activity vs continuity theory of aging Activity theory of agingĪccording to the activity theory of aging, successful aging occurs when older adults remain active and maintain social interactions.Īccording to continuity theory, both development and adaptation occur continuously, cumulatively, and incrementally throughout life. Simply put, older people grow and change, but their adaptation to new circumstances is linked to their past experiences and long-held values, He perceived continuity in aging as a dynamic and developmental process. In his book, Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences, Atchley further developed and bolstered his theory. In his article tilted A Continuity Theory of Normal Aging, he understood the process of aging as shaped by one’s personal history, values, and social interactions. Robert Atchley is considered the “father” of continuity theory. He used the concept of continuity to explain the behavior of aging individuals. George Maddox observed that older people engaged in similar activities to those of their previous life. Here’s a timeline of the development of the theory 1968 Casino gambling among urban elders: Just another social activity? Journal of Gerontology Social Science, 60B, S74–S81.References Origins of Continuity Theory of Aging A current theoretical issue in social gerontology. Activities and self-esteem continuing the development of activity theory. Continuities and discontinuities of psychological issues into adult life. Disengagement theory: A critical evaluation. Explicating activity theory: A formal replication. An exploration of the activity theory of aging: Activity types and life satisfaction among in-movers to a retirement community. The activity theory of aging: An examination in the English context. Disengagement theory: A critique and proposal. Growing old: The process of disengagement. International Social Science Journal, 15(3), 377–393.Ĭumming, E., & Henry, W. Further thoughts on the theory of disengagement. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4, 151–156.Ĭumming, E. Evidence for a life-span theory of socioemotional selectivity. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 2(4), 249–260.Ĭarstensen, L. Generational difference and the developmental stake. ![]() Thomae (Eds.), Adjustment to retirement: A cross-national study (pp. Cultural and occupational differences in level of present role activity in retirement. Re-engaging the disengagement theory of aging: On the history and assessment of theory development in gerontology. ![]()
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