BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY:

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT WEEK
3 14 14
Late Adulthood
(Physical Development, Cognitive Development and Psycho Social Development) PART II

✓ Read course and unit objectives

✓ Read study guide prior to class attendance
✓ Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
✓ Proactively participate in classroom discussions
✓ Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)
✓ Answer and submit course unit tasks

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

1. To understand the changes undergone in old age

2. To investigate the issues and lifestyle in late adulthood

Boyd, Denise. (2015). Lifespan development, 7th ed. Singapore: Pearson Educ. 155 B69 2015, c10
 Achieving a sense of personal uniqueness can
be difficult for older adults, who are frequently
stereotyped or labeled by other people as sick,
disabled, or incompetent. Furthermore, changes
in social roles and relationships are just as
important as the physical changes of late
adulthood. Thus, late adulthood is considered
the most socially and personally challenging
period of life.

Erikson’s ego integrity stage has been important in studies of social and personality functioning in older
adults; still, research does not support his view that ego integrity is essential to mental health in old age.
For the most part, older adults are not disconnected from the social world and seem to benefit from social
involvement as the younger ones.

Erikson coined the last life crises which is the despair because it would be late to make
ego integrity versus despair stage. To changes before death.
achieve it, the older adult must come to terms
with who he/she is and has been, how his/her life
has been lived, the choices made, the
opportunities gained and lost. It also includes
accepting death as a part of life’s journey and
accepting its inevitability. Erikson theorized that
failure to achieve ego integrity in late adulthood
would result in feelings of hopelessness and

One key feature of Erikson's theory is the belief that the process of reminiscence, thinking about the
past, is an integral part and a healthy way of achieving ego integrity, and thus an important part of old
age. reminiscence is also important in the process of life review, which involves an evaluative process
that make judgments about past behavior.
Life review results in both positive and negative emotional outcomes, and the overall balance of positive
and negative emotions that results from the life review process is correlated with elders’ mental health.

There are several theories of late – life psychosocial functioning. One of which claims that it is healthy
for older adults to remain active if they can. This perspective is referred to as activity theory claims that
the psychologically and physically healthiest response to old age is to maintain the greatest possible
level of activity and involvement.

The disengagement theory has three aspects:

1. Shrinkage of life space: As persons age, they interact with fewer and fewer others, and fill fewer
and fewer roles.
2. Increased individuality: In the roles and relationships that remain, the older individual is less
and less governed by strict rules or expectations.
3. Acceptance of these changes: The healthy older adults actively disengage from roles and
relationships, turning more and more inward and away from interactions with others.

Lastly, the continuity theory reasons that the

primary means by which elders adjust to aging is
to continue to engage in the same kinds of
activities that they are interested and challenged
them previously in their younger years.

Social Engagement
Social connectedness and joining productive activities are important to successful aging. Social
engagement helps successful aging because it provides opportunities for older adults to give support, as
well as to receive it.
Even when elderly adults have significant
disabilities, many are still oriented toward
helping others and feel more satisfied with their
lives.

Productivity
Volunteerism, performing unpaid work for competency. All this eventually leads to good
altruistic reasons, has been related to successful mental health.
aging. Research support that mortality rates
were 60% lower among volunteers than among
non-volunteers. Some adults remain productive
by engaging into new pursuits, such as taking art
and dancing lessons. New activities provide a
purpose in life, opportunities to interact with
similar -minded peers, and a sense of

Life Satisfaction
Life satisfaction is also an important part of
successful aging. Perceived adequacy of social
support and perceived adequacy of income
are critical. Self-ratings of health may be the
most significant predictors of life satisfaction and
morale.

.
Religious Beliefs
The psychological component of religious coping This is also a form of “emotion – focused”
involves people's beliefs and attitudes. religious problem solving.
coping is a tendency to turn to religious beliefs
and institutions in times of stress or trouble.
Religious coping may be particularly important in
the later years because of the high number of life
stressors—including death of a loved one,
chronic illnesses, and declining sensory abilities.

Researchers have studies relationships between religious beliefs and various measures of well-being
among the elderly. It found out that elders who place a great deal of emphasis on religious faith worry
much less than those who do not. Religious faith seems to provide older adults with a structure that
assimilates the various periods of their lives. As a result, religious elders are more likely than their non-
religious peers to view old age as a chapter in an ongoing journey rather than as primarily a period of
loss of capacity. For the financially deprived elders, religious faith is viewed as a source of strength for
those who have little social power.

Older Workers
A big problem to employment for older adults is
that many potential employer express concerns
about older adults' ability to learn new job skills.
“Stigma of Incompetency” With appropriately
paced training, older adults can significantly
improve their performance on many cognitive
tasks that are relevant to the workplace.

Early Retirement
Many older adults choose to retire before the traditional age of 65 is due to poor health, which lowers the
average age of retirement from one to three years. (Boyd & Bee, 2015)
Life Satisfaction: a favorable attitude towards one's life rather than an assessment of current feelings.

ego integrity versus despair stage: is the eighth and final stage of Erik Erikson's stage theory of
psychosocial development. This stage begins at approximately age 65 and ends at death.

Essentials of Life Span Development 5th Edition Santrock, John W. New York: MC Graw Hill (2018)
155.25 S5 2018 c2

Papalia, Diane E.. (2015). Experience human development 13th ed.. New Yor : McGraw-Hill . 155.25
P19 2015,c1

Ciccarelli, Saundra K.. (2015). Psychology, 4th ed.. Singapore : Pearson Education. 150.1 C48 2015,c2

Study Questions

1. What do you think? Is religious coping particularly important in the later years because
of the high number of life stressors? Are there other reasons, as well? If so, what are
they?

2. Why is participation in social activities important to the overall life satisfaction and
mental health of elders?
Boyd, Denise. (2015). Lifespan development, 7th ed. Singapore:
Pearson Educ. 155 B69 2015, c10

Essentials of Life Span Development 5th Edition Santrock, John W.

New York: MC Graw Hill (2018) 155.25 S5 2018 c2

Papalia, Diane E.. (2015). Experience human development 13th ed..

New Yor : McGraw-Hill . 155.25 P19 2015,c1

Ciccarelli, Saundra K.. (2015). Psychology, 4th ed. Singapore:

Pearson Education. 150.1 C48 2015,c2