Major Social Theories of Aging and their Implications for Counseling Concepts and Practice

1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Fry
Keyword(s):  
Role Theory ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Integrative Framework ◽  
Theories Of Aging ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Theories ◽  
Disengagement Theory ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

The article discusses the counseling implications and applications of a number of social theories of aging. It explores the effects of some of the rather distinct perspectives on aging that have emerged, beginning with the conceptualizations, research studies, and criticisms of disengagement theory, activity theory, and role theory, leading up to continuity theory and the liberation perspective. The social theory approaches to aging and the resulting empirical studies examined here have affinities with some of the existing perspectives of counseling concepts and counseling practice. The focus is on counseling perspectives aimed at helping elderly individuals maintain a satisfactory state of psychological well-being. Particular attention is given to the reciprocal influences among social systems, individual resources, and counselor effects in helping elderly clients cope with differential demands, internal pressures, and external constraints of the social environment. An integrative framework proposing conceptual links among individual resources, social resources, and life satisfactions in old age is presented. The discussion is devoted to persuading counseling psychologists and mental health practitioners that individuals age differently and by differing processes. The issues of heterogeneity in the aging processes, the modifiability of these processes, and choices in constructing alternative futures for older persons make it possible for counseling researchers and counseling psychologists to consider aging individuals as synergistic products of ecological, biological, psychosocial, and cultural factors.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Human Development, Tourism and Economic Growth: Evidence From Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Yan-Teng Tan ◽  
Pei-Tha Gan ◽  
Mohd Yahya Mohd Hussin ◽  
Norimah Ramli
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Remarkable Feature ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors ◽  
The Relationship

A remarkable feature of empirical studies is that not many research works investigate the relation between human development and tourism. Although gross domestic product may replace human development to measure economy progress and human well-being in relation to tourism, however, this definition, is narrow, limits to economic side, and ignores the social and cultural factors. To overcome this shortcoming, this study examines the relationship between human development, tourism and economic growth in Malaysia. By using different cointegration approaches, the results indicate that tourism is positively related to human development in the long run. The finding suggests that the known relationship may serve as a guide to policy makers to achieve better development of social and cultural in order to promote the growth.

Multiculturalism and Immigration in Post-Soviet Russia

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadezhda Lebedeva ◽  
Alexander Tatarko
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Intercultural Relations ◽  
Acculturation Strategies ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Russian Immigrants ◽  
Sense Of Security ◽  
The Social ◽  
Soviet Russia

This paper addresses some social and psychological issues concerning multiculturalism and immigration in post-Soviet Russia, which is one of the most multicultural societies in the world. The paper begins by describing the current cultural and immigrant diversity in Russia, and then provides a short description of Russian immigrants and the social and psychological problems that immigrants and the larger society face. We present the conceptual framework and findings from empirical studies that examine the reciprocal acculturation and intercultural relations between migrants and members of the larger society. We analyze these studies with respect to their relevance to three hypotheses that have been advanced for examining intercultural relations: the multiculturalism hypothesis; the integration hypothesis; and contact hypothesis. Findings of the studies showed that measures of security, identity, perceived threat/discrimination have a significant relationship with ethnic tolerance, mutual attitudes, acculturation strategies and expectations, and the well-being and life satisfaction of both immigrants and members of the larger society. The results of these studies support all three hypotheses in both groups. The authors concluded that the efforts to improve relations between members of the larger society and immigrants should be directed at enhancing the basic sense of security and at developing programs that increase multicultural attitudes, ethno-cultural competence, and tolerance between both groups.

Connecting Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Through Bond Graph Modeling and System Dynamics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailie Suk ◽  
John Hall
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Bond Graph ◽  
Social Progress ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Graph Modeling ◽  
The Social ◽  
Bond Graph Modeling

Abstract Access to resources can contribute to social progress in extremely impoverished communities. The introduction of cyber-physical systems for electricity, water, and irrigation facilitates greater fulfillment of needs. Yet, the availability of resources may be inconsistent or lacking. The social dynamics of the community can provide insight into how the available resources support well-being. Thus, the cyber-physical system requires the addition of a social consideration to become cyber-physical-social systems. However, the social considerations typically include qualitative parameters. This prompts the need for integrating qualitative and quantitative information. In this paper, we present a method for mathematically representing qualitative and quantitative relationships. This is achieved by connecting Bond Graph Modeling and System Dynamics. The Bond Graph model is used to mathematically represent relationships between qualitative and quantitative elements. These relationships are used in the System Dynamics analysis. The method is anchored in expanding cyber-physical to cyber-physical-social systems through incorporating both qualitative and quantitative information in the systems analysis. The mathematical connectivity of qualitative and quantitative information is a key feature of this approach. A test problem in resource allocation is used to demonstrate the function and flexibility of the method. This is anchored in connecting qualitative and quantitative information in the analysis.

scholarly journals Towards an Emotionally Conscious Social Theory

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benet Davetian
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Contemporary Theory ◽  
Cultural Boundaries ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Theories ◽  
New Evidence

This article attempts to contribute to the on-going discussion regarding the ‘future of sociology and social theory’ by suggesting that classical and contemporary social theories have yet to provide satisfactory accounts of the emotional components of human society. Following a discussion of how emotions have been downplayed in classical and contemporary theory, evidence is presented in support of a sociology that would include the study of emotions as part of broader studies of the social. A central proposition of this article is that the harmonization of studies of ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ realities would facilitate the development of a systems theory that neither excludes diversity nor minimizes the immutable emotional needs of individuals and their social systems. In support of the above argument, the author presents some new evidence pointing to the primacy of the human emotions across cultural boundaries.

Spatially integrated and socially segregated: The effects of mixed-income neighbourhoods on social well-being

Urban Studies ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 1859-1874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amie Thurber ◽  
Claire Riehle Bohmann ◽  
Craig Anne Heflinger
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Spatial Integration ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Social Lives ◽  
Urban Neighbourhoods ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mixed Income

Mixed-income development is the latest in a long line of policy interventions to improve outcomes in distressed urban neighbourhoods, particularly as an alternative to large scale public housing projects. Such developments are inherently integrationist, and have profound effects on the social lives and well-being of residents. After situating mixed-income developments within current residential demographic trends with regard to race and income, this article provides a comprehensive review of the 22 empirical studies addressing social integration in mixed-income developments in the United States, focusing on understanding the effects of spatial integration on social well-being. We discuss policy and practice implications to optimise the social well-being of residents, as well as strategies to improve scholarship in these settings.

scholarly journals On the promotion of human flourishing

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (31) ◽  
pp. 8148-8156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler J. VanderWeele
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biomedical Sciences ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Specific Disease State

Many empirical studies throughout the social and biomedical sciences focus only on very narrow outcomes such as income, or a single specific disease state, or a measure of positive affect. Human well-being or flourishing, however, consists in a much broader range of states and outcomes, certainly including mental and physical health, but also encompassing happiness and life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships. The empirical literature from longitudinal, experimental, and quasiexperimental studies is reviewed in attempt to identify major determinants of human flourishing, broadly conceived. Measures of human flourishing are proposed. Discussion is given to the implications of a broader conception of human flourishing, and of the research reviewed, for policy, and for future research in the biomedical and social sciences.

scholarly journals The Challenge of Measuring Well-Being as Philosophers Conceive of It

2021 ◽  
pp. 257-284
Author(s):  
Anne Baril
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social And Behavioral Sciences ◽  
Behavioral Sciences ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The Social ◽  
Basic Good ◽  
General Method

Many philosophers find the prospect of working with researchers in the social and behavioral sciences exciting, in part because they hope that these researchers might be able to measure well-being as the philosopher conceives of it. In this chapter, the author considers how the measurement of well-being, as it is conceived of by philosophers, might be facilitated. She proposes that existing scales can be employed for this purpose, and she supports this conclusion through an in-depth discussion of an example. The author explains how a scale of psychological well-being validated in more than 750 empirical studies may be employed to measure the extent to which a person has realized an ostensible basic good. This discussion is illustrative of the general method that may be employed to bring empirical researchers and philosophers into contact in a way that will facilitate the measurement of well-being as philosophers conceive of it.

scholarly journals Edukacja a kompetencje cyfrowe seniora

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Orłowska ◽  
Krystyna M. Błeszyńska
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Theories Of Aging ◽  
The Social ◽  
Digital Exclusion ◽  
Modern Technologies

The next decade was announced by WHO as the Decade of Healthy Aging. This is the answer to the social issue of highly developed countries, which is the aging of the society. In this context, there is the problem of active participation of seniors in social life, and especially the prevention of their social marginalization. Hence, projects that counteract exclusion and support active aging processes largely refer to modern technologies. Searching for answers to these questions and dilemmas, this text adopts an interdisciplinary approach, situating undertaken analyzes in the context of theories of aging, motivation as well as learning and using new technologies. The conclusions of the research undertaken – theoretical and empirical studies – undermine the hypothesis of digital exclusion of seniors perceived as the age group category. In the light of this research, it seems that education is the factor that influences the development of digital divide and digital inequalities within the community.

scholarly journals Education and digital competencies of elder adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Orłowska ◽  
Krystyna M. Błeszyńska
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Theories Of Aging ◽  
The Social ◽  
Digital Exclusion ◽  
Elder Adults

The next decade was announced by WHO as the Decade of Healthy Aging. This is the answer to the social issue of highly developed countries, which is the aging of the society. In this context, there is the problem of active participation of seniors in social life, and especially the prevention of their social marginalization. Hence, projects that counteract exclusion and support active aging processes largely refer to modern technologies. Searching for answers to these questions and dilemmas, this text adopts an interdisciplinary approach, situating undertaken analyzes in the context of theories of aging, motivation as well as learning and using new technologies. The conclusions of the research undertaken – theoretical and empirical studies – undermine the hypothesis of digital exclusion of seniors perceived as the age group category. In the light of this research, it seems that education is the factor that influences the development of digital divide and digital inequalities within the community.

“I would say it’s alive”: Understanding the social construction of place, identity, and neighborhood effects through the lived experience of urban young adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 481-500
Author(s):  
Kalen Flynn ◽  
Brenda Mathias
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Neighborhood Effects ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Construction Of Place

A burgeoning literature provides evidence that neighborhood matters, especially in relation to urban adolescent development. Exposure to crime and poverty has been shown to negatively impact key aspects of development, such as physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Traditional theoretical frameworks identifying the social mechanisms of place fail to critically examine how neighborhood effects are socially constructed at the individual level, and rather assume aggregate community narratives. Such blanket measures of neighborhood effects do not account for individual interpretations of space or the impacts of larger structural forces on decision making and developmental processes. A unique combination of qualitative GIS methodologies was utilized to explore how urban adolescents define, navigate, and engage their surrounding environment to better understand the mechanisms of neighborhood effects, and how these interactions shape development. Sedentary and walking interview data were paired with GPS data to develop a real-time understanding of the spaces across which youth were navigating. The findings from this work suggest that how youth perceive space is a complex process, stemming from the interaction of structural and social systems, and highlight the value of understanding varying resident experiences when considering definitions of neighborhood. This study begins to fill a gap in the neighborhood effects’ literature by developing an argument for the social construction of place as an alternative to traditional methodological and theoretical frameworks.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document