This week, I am choosing to review Chapter 1 more in depth for a few reasons. Aging is something we all go through, on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis we are all growing older. This chapter gives an in-depth look at aging by touching on topics such as, the history of aging, the person-environment, personal and social definitions and perspectives, as well as the revolution and future that aging has had on both our country and our world.
In years past, older age was related to property ownership and the control of political resources, for instance elders were cared for in old age in exchange for the inheritance of property by their children (Hillier, Barrow, 2011, p. 10). Ever since the turn of industrialization however, economic resources and property have become more available to people regardless of their age or family status.
As the text defines the person-environment approach as a the continually changing context to which individuals adapt as they also adapt to the personal, psychological, and physical changes inherent in the aging process ( Hillier, Barrow, 2011, p. 6). With this, it is clear that as the environment changes around us, we too, change in order to better adapt, with that the personal practices of growing older have changed, as well as the practices of societies view of aging.
Due to advances in technology and medicine, over the years we have seen both the physical and psychological faces of aging change. Alex Comfort describes two types of aging; physical, which is a biological process, and sociogenic, which is the aging imposed on elders by the folklore, prejudices, and stereotypes about age that prevail in our society (Hillier, Barrow, 2011, p. 13). Aside from the physical aging, it's true that many in the elderly population label themselves as "old" by societies standards. These stereotypes and prejudices about the aging population from society should be abolished and exchanged for individualism.
It is clear to me that aging in general has evolved in recent years due to multiple factors. This chapter has shown me that although birth rates are dropping and longevity is increasing, society can still remain youth-oriented. We can not escape aging, but we can continue to prosper in it and embrace the newer, healthier, aging population. Ageism has been proven to be equally psychological as it is physical; Dr. Robert Chism (2013) recently stated in an article that ageism is one of the primary social problems affecting the second half of life. Social problems as we know are often self-induced through facets such as the media. If the younger generations start embracing a positive concept of old age, I believe society could have the power to potentially change the idea of aging yet again.
Great post! I believe that aging is becoming that new thing in America. More and more people are being taught to embrace it. And you're right, with new technologies and medicines people are living longer and I think it's a good idea to change to word to individualism instead of "old." It seems like that has such a derogetory term these days. But like I said, if people embrace the aging process they'll learn to enjoy life rather than living in fear that they're aging.
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