Theory of Aging

Physiological Theory

Disengagement Theory

One of the earliest theory.

• Developed by Elaine Cumming and William Henry ( Cumming and Henry 1961)
• This theory viewed aging as a process through which society and individual gradually withdraw or disengage from each other.

" Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years .we grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin but ti gives up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." - Samuel Ullman

Activity theory: Proposed by HAVIGHRUST (1963)

• Encourage older adults to maintain their active middle-aged lifestyles and to stay as active as they can.
• It implies that challenges must be addressed, including those involving deteriorating health, losing duties and responsibilities, experiencing a decline in income, and having a smaller group of acquaintances.
• It offers several suggestions on how senior citizens might stay active.
• When physical activity is drastically reduced for most elderly people, intellectual pursuits should be prioritized.
• The development of new friendships would be encouraged when long-time friends and family members pass away or experience other losses.

Continuity Theory : Negatron ,1964

• Personality and fundamental behavioral patterns are thought to remain constant in an individual despite the aging process.
• The patterns and levels of activity that emerge over the course of a person's life will largely determine whether they continue to be engaged and active as they age or become disengaged and inactive.
• According to this theory, a person's current activities will serve as the basis for how old they become in the future.

Social Exchange Theory

• Asserts that social contact between people and groups will continue as long as everyone benefits.
• When the social exchange is no longer profitable, there is an imbalance in the interaction and one person starts to appear to be more powerful than the other.
• The result of an exchange relationship that gradually undermines the power of the elderly is a decrease in their social interaction.

Environmental Theory

• The elements in the environment have been considered by the researchers to have an effect on aging phenomena
• Biologists have considered the effects of the environment on the cellular structure of the human organism.

Radiation Theory

Excessive exposure to the suns radiation puts the skin at risk during the somatic mutation process.

Stress Theory 

According to Perlman (1954), ' Human aging is a 'disease syndrome ' arising from a struggle between environmental stress and biological resistance and relative adaptation to the effects of stressor agents. This stressor agent might include air , pollutant, chemical, and psychological and sociological events.'

Developmental Theory

• Erikson (1963) theorized that person's life consist of eight stages.
• Each stage represents a crucial turning point in life stretching from birth to death, with its own developmental conflicts to be resolved.
• According to him , the major developmental task of old age is either to achieve ego integrity or to suffer despair.