What is social aging? 4 defense mechanisms used by older people

Old age is associated with several processes of change in personal relationships.

Since the middle of the last century, psychology's interest in anticipating social problems has focused on the development of the elderly and their participation in daily life. and their participation in everyday life.

According to sociological studies, our environment is aging by leaps and bounds. The number of elderly people is higher than ever before and it is estimated that by 2025 there will be around 1.1 billion people over the age of 80. If the forecasts made by the United Nations are true, 13.7% of the population will be between 60 and 80 years of age.

The study of aging from the perspective of social psychology encompasses the psychological processes and mechanisms associated with this stage and how they are influenced culturally and socially. He considers aging as a period in which people achieve certain achievements and grow at a psychosocial level and defends that no vital period should be defined by "loss", although in all of them there is some.

• Recommended article: "The 4 psychological changes in old age".

Old age, stability or change?

As we age, we are confronted with multiple new situations to which we end up adapting. These situations make us aware of the passage of time and give us the opportunity to incorporate changes into our lives without losing our sense of stability. Proof of this is that, according to numerous studies, people maintain a great stability in our self-awareness throughout our lives..

Although most changes are incorporated into our self-consciousness without losing the sense of continuity, some situations provoke an experience of rupture and mark the passage to a new stage.

The most relevant reminders are bodily (pains and illnesses during old age), symbolic (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.), generational (related to family and friends), environmental (related to public life and work) and vital (personal experiences). One of the most relevant reminders is retirement which, on the one hand, represents the opportunity to be autonomous and independent, but on the other hand imposes a break with roles and habits that have been maintained for years, signaling the end of the middle-age stage and the beginning of old age.

Ageism or discrimination against the elderly

We tend to develop stereotypical beliefs about people's age, including personality, social roles or behaviors "proper" to each stage of life. These beliefs are learned at a very early age and are passively and actively transmitted, for example, by associating gray hair with old age or labeling certain clothing or behaviors of older people as "inappropriate".

According to a study by Cuddy, Norton and Fiske, people over the age of 70 are perceived as more incompetent, dependent, kind, calm and patient, as well as less mentally and physically fit.as well as having less mental and physical well-being. These stereotypes, regardless of their connotation, foster a simplified and erroneous view of old age, but social psychology has found two interventions that can reduce them. Firstly, to promote contact between different generations in order to foster mutual knowledge and interdependence. Secondly, to educate in values and promote respectful treatment of people of different ages.

How to combat the detrimental effects of social aging

Often, people who see their social self-esteem damaged implement strategies that, unconsciously, can help them develop a positive social identity, can help develop a positive social identity and improve subjective well-being.. Such strategies are applicable to elderly people who are victims of stereotypes related to old age.

1. Postponing social self-categorization

This strategy, which is common in middle-aged people and in the early stages of old age, consists of postponing self-categorization, consists of postponing self-categorization as a member of the older age group.The cut-off point from which old age begins to appear is shifting as you get older.

2. Relative illusory optimism

This strategy, also known as self-enhancement of the self, represents a way of reacting to the threat to self-esteem, represents a way of reacting to the threat to self-esteem caused by belonging to the group of older people.. It consists of perceiving oneself more favorably than other people of the same age, either physically, socially or psychologically.

It was studied by Heckhausen and Krueger. In their research, people in the over-60 group were the only ones who responded differently for themselves and for the other members of their age group. Some of the differences they noted were that they would lose their positive attributes more slowly than the rest and that they would take longer to suffer the negative effects of aging.

3. Absolute delusional optimism

When we find ourselves in a situation of uncertainty, we tend to exaggerate our expectations of control, we tend to exaggerate our expectations of control and develop an optimistic view of the future. and develop an optimistic view of the future. This strategy is frequent when, in addition to uncertainty, there is a sense of vulnerability, as for example in people with health problems.

The difference between relative and absolute delusional optimism is that in the latter, the positive self-image is built up in a positive way, the positive self-image is constructed without the need for comparison with others.. Both types of optimism decrease levels of stress and distress, and their absence is related to depressive and anxiogenic symptoms.

4. Asymmetrical social comparisons

They can be "downward" when compared with other people of the same age but in worse conditions, or "upward" if compared with people in better conditions. In the first case, they help regulate the negative feelings caused by the deterioration of old age and improve self-esteem. They are common when dealing with irreversible difficulties or losses, such as physical aging or the loss of a loved one.such as physical aging or the loss of a loved one.

On the other hand, upward comparisons bring hope and motivation to face a situation that causes discomfort but has a remedy, since they provide information on how other people solved a problem.

Other strategies specific to the elderly include social-emotional selection (choosing emotionally satisfying life experiences), compensatory mechanisms (using alternative resources to compensate for health losses, such as a companion or instrumental supports) and underestimation of health (minimizing the importance of symptoms, considering them normal for one's age).