Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

2011

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Psychology

Advisor

David Bearison

Committee Members

Suzanne Ouellette

Anna Stetsenko

Joseph A. Glick

Wendy Luttrell

Subject Categories

Developmental Psychology | Geropsychology

Abstract

As the population of the Western world grows older, the need to understand the meaning of this stage in life grows in importance. Psychological research into the meaning of old age is posing questions on diverse levels, from that of individual ontogenesis to those of the family, community and society at large. Traditionally, developmental psychology has investigated different aspects of aging using measures of cognition, emotion, self-concept and well- being. Other approaches have examined the meaning of old age as embedded in cultural and social relations.

The present study uses a narrative approach to elicit the particular voices and interpretations of its participants. In light of pervasive, often malicious stereotypes and prejudices that are associated with old age, this approach seems to ensure candid and close to real life data. Three groups of participants were interviewed:

1. The actors -- eight men and eight women 80 years old and older who were the main focus of the study.

2. The offspring -- a son or daughter of each of the actor/ elderly participants.

3. The acquaintances -- an acquaintance chosen by each actor/ elderly participants.

The actors were asked to respond to a general inquiry about their own lives. The offspring and the acquaintances were asked about the life of the actor. The analysis focused on the story of the actor as it was shaped by these three voices (the triad) and on the collective narratives of the three different groups.

The stories gathered in this way informed the following research questions:

1. What are the practices and meanings of "being old" in New York City at the present time? How can these meanings inform us about the place of aging in our cultural discourses?

2. How do the perspectives of the actor, the actor's offspring and the actor's acquaintance resemble and differ from each other? What is the meaning of the different or similar approaches to old age? How do the different stories inform, enable and constrain each other? What do these three approaches tell us about the meaning of aging in people's hearts and minds?

3. What are the similarities and differences within each group of participants (i.e., actor, actor's offspring and actor's acquaintances)? What do these similarities and differences tell us about the cultural narratives on aging?

4. To what extent are societal images of old age depicted in the individual narratives? How do individuals use these images when explaining, contemplating or questioning the stories of the aged actors?

The following themes of meaning were elicited from the transcribed interviews and discussed: (1) reflection on self at present, (2) conditions of aging, (3) everyday activities, (4) family ties, (5) self and identity, (6) beliefs and values and, (7) the future. The different voices were presented and analyzed in light of developmental and gerontological literature. The present study supports the positioning of old age as a unique developmental stage with its own rewards and challenges.

Comments

Digital reproduction from the UMI microform.

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