Question Description
Hi, I need replies to these two posts. It should be 150 to 200 words each. Thank you. Do not need cover page. Bellow you can first see question and then posts.
Culture and expectations of old age
Old age in the past was equivalent with loss and decline. Loss or decline of brain cells, of intellectual abilities and capabilities, of sex drive, of energy and psychical abilities. Older people are generally subjected to stereotyping, and prejudice. But, lately old age has been viewed as a stage of life in which people in some area continue to change, adapt, and in other to decline. People are living longer, they are more active, and work longer. Arnett (2016) discusses that in many cultures there are traditions that respect people in the late adulthood.
How is different to grow old in the US compare to other parts of world?
- How do stereotypes about older generation influence aging both in terms of physical, psychological and cognitive changes?
- How might we work to change our expectations of old age?
MWL
In collectivistic cultures such as Asian and Middle Eastern countries, it is imperative that individuals respect elders. I think this is because they put more value in experience and believe the notion that elders have seen and done things, thus they know better. It is not just family members, but anyone who is older, and thus have higher status, should be respected in certain collectivistic cultures such as South Korea. In individualistic cultures however, the older generation experiences equal amount of respect as the younger generation. Thus, the division between age is less prominent compared to collectivistic cultures. This leads to more differential treatment due to age in countries such as China, compared to the United States or France. Even though I believe their is much to learn from the older generation, this differential treatment has its disadvantages as well. As much as the idea that elders need to be respected is so ingrained in the culture, they also believe that older adults need to be cared for and should live relatively sedentary and quiet lifestyles. These stereotypical ideas put many older adults in a box and thus culturally limit the pursuit of their desires and hobbies. The older generation in individualistic cultures dress equally as the younger generation and pursue similar activities and goals as long as they’re physically able. This is very rare in collectivistic cultures.
In terms of the expectations of older people, I think it will naturally shift as the population becomes older and birth rates decrease. As the work force rapidly ages, older adults will have to stay employed for an extended time and negative stereotypes of older people will eventually decrease.
AH
Hi!
While reading about your views on the differences between collectivist culture and individualistic culture on growing old, it reminded me of an example of fluid and crystallized intelligence that exists in the workplace setting and what we can do to change our expectations of old age. Fluid intelligence appears to decline with age, while crystallized intelligence appears to increase with age. This increase may be demonstrated by increase in job and non-job related knowledge. However, with this knowledge, it may lead to under predicting older worker’s performance by disregarding the relationship between job knowledge and performance. In reality, when increase in crystalized intelligence with age and job knowledge is taken into account, older employees are many times superior performers. The lifetime experience places older employees at an advantage over the young employees. Kanfer & Ackman (2004) examined the implications of the aging workplace and work motivation. They found that in addition to the decrease in fluid intelligence and increase in crystalized intelligence, the motives and personalities of the older employee’s changes over time. Traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness increased, while internal motives decreased. These changes may be viewed as changes in job “fit” by individuals viewing their performance from the outside, rather it should be viewed as changes in one’s motivational processes. With this information, organization decision makers should maximize the potential of their older employees by changing their job tasks from requiring higher fluid intelligence to those requiring crystalized intelligence, an example is to place them in mentoring jobs. I believe that advocating and spreading knowledge about research and facts can aid in changing expectations of old age in the United States – one I believe is necessary.
