Analyzing Psychology of Aging Trends

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Psychology of Aging

Trait: Personality traits refer to established or fairly constant characteristics which identify individual differences among people. For instance, if a person suffers from bipolar disorder, he/she might possess trait impulsivity -- a characteristic of personality influencing his/her response to events. This trait impulsivity varies marginally between normal and bipolar (depressive and manic) phases, or with time. Certain studies indicate that particular personality traits, such as trait anxiety or trait impulsivity, might be risk elements for the development of mood-related disorders in future (DiMaria, 2013).

Mood: Moods refer to transient ways of feeling or being. For instance, if an individual suffers from an acute case of depressive disorder, he/she might feel extremely miserable for many weeks in a row. This unhappy mood constitutes a transient mood state. In other words, it does not form part of the individual's personality structure. Therapy may help cure unhappiness. Therapists and research scholars have devised standardized assessments to evaluate transient mood states and permanent personality traits (DiMaria, 2013).

The difference between moods and traits is clear -- the latter remain stable with time, or they exhibit minimal variance when measured repeatedly. A majority of variables of personality are traits -- it is definitely shocking if any person seems to exhibit superior intelligence at times and stupidity at other times. This also applies, albeit probably to a smaller extent, to extraversion and other such personality variables. Meanwhile, moods are transitory. Anxiousness as a mood would be fleeting, whereas an anxious personality trait is lasting and invariable (Kline, 2014). Brown, Cloninger, Svarkic, and Przybeck (1992) wrote that anxiety and mood states have different impacts on personality domains. That is, fairly large segments of behavior and personality, like reward dependence, novelty seeking, as well as other higher-order personality traits, appear to be independent from anxiety and mood states. By contrast, a higher-order harm avoidance trait, along with its related lower-order personality traits, indicates a much larger degree of anxiety and mood changes. The possibility of large parts of personality being independent of present mood, as well as that of some accurately defined areas of personality tending to simultaneously alter with present mood, can enhance one's grasp of personality's link with affective disorders and emotionality (Brown, Svarkic, Przybeck, & Cloninger, 1992).

2. A majority of individuals live their young adult life, middle age as well as later life carrying out standard everyday tasks without giving much thought to them. As one ages, the normative transformations, which frequently take place cause greater challenges in coping with scenarios that, at one time, posed no problems whatsoever. Even one's home, which was earlier a comfortable haven, may present difficulties -- trudging up one's staircase could require as much effort as mountain climbing. Functional status alterations and how they are facilitated or hindered by one's surrounding environment represent central components of the aging experience for numerous individuals (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). Environmental psychology or aging ecology analyzes these changes, with the aim to comprehend dynamic linkages between the elderly and their surrounding environments. Comprehending how ostensibly minimal transformations in one's environment may bring about crucial behavioral changes, possibly making a difference between an individual's ability of living independently or requiring support, is imperative. Age-related differences with regard to divided attention activities may be reduced if the elderly are trained, thus decreasing demands on their attention. Web-based computer games may also be used as a training tool. That is, through such means and experience, the elderly can possibly learn to split their attention between tasks, effectively (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015).

Latest developments in general social science domain, and, particularly, in sociology, indicate a slow trend towards reviving interest with regard to the subject of identity and religion. There is hardly any doubt regarding how powerful the linkage of identity with religion is. In other words, achievement of identity is linked strongly to religious commitment internalization. Also, evidence suggests that attending religious events is linked to the identity commitment options of achievement and foreclosure, whereas identity diffusion corresponds to lower religious attendance rates. It is helpful to bear in mind that numerous factors govern the depth of identity's bond with religion (Oppong, 2013).

3. The stigma linked to dementia becomes severer on account of the fact that this condition often surfaces in old age, which is itself stigmatized, with the popular belief that it is a phase of increased reliance on others and vulnerability. In spite of attempts made to counter other types of stigmatization, one can observe that ageism remains, in today's world, the most publicly pardoned and entrenched kind of prejudice.

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Stigma has a direct influence on elderly individuals in many areas, including employment continuance, driving, and the capability of consenting to clinical procedures. This stereotypic attitude encountered by elderly individuals indicates that the absence of physical frailty or cognitive impairment among them is regarded as unusual. Remarks such as 'He is agile for his age', or 'He continues to have all his marbles' or 'He is quick-witted for his age', are often made as remarks of admiration by well-intentioned individuals, appreciating an elderly individual's remarkably good functioning. Therefore, old age is itself associated with a stigma, on the basis of the notion of the inevitable link of age with physical and mental decline (Batsch & Mittelman, 2012).

To a large number of individuals, the term 'dementia' implies 'mental illness'; the stigma linked to mental ailment is well recorded. As middle-stage dementia symptoms may be similar to acute mental ailment symptoms, the stigma associated with mental illness also gets transferred to those suffering from dementia. This confusion is further intensified by the wrong use of the word 'demented' to denote 'crazy'. Conventional spiritual beliefs concerning dementia's nature and cause, and related concerns regarding impact of dementia within the family on an unmarried family member's marriage prospects, were relatively common among South Asians; there was also pressure witnessed among members of two groups under study to ensure a dementia case, perceived as a very private matter, 'remains within the family' and isn't open to societal scrutiny (Batsch & Mittelman, 2012).

Awareness should be created regarding the fact that during the entire course of this condition, dementia-afflicted individuals are able to contribute to society, take part in societal activities, and preserve their dignity at all times and places, whether at home, at elder care homes or within society. Best practices useful in decreasing the stigma linked to different stages of dementia and in different societal levels have to be popularized. This stigma is usually promoted by media's portrayal of individuals with last-stage dementia; rather than doing this, media should facilitate the process of creating awareness and reducing dementia-related stigma (Batsch & Mittelman, 2012).

4. My general belief was that individuals undergo cognitive decline as they age, and neither the individuals themselves nor their family members feel inclined to pursue medical assessments for ascertaining the reason behind this deterioration in physical and mental health (Batsch & Mittelman, 2012). However, I have come to understand, now, that the process of socialization is linked to anxiety, depression and mental health ailments. With age, individuals' interaction with others decreases, leading to loneliness, depression and discouragement (Carstensen, 2012). There is lack of an adequate number of qualified psychologists for training aging individuals, and as baby boomers reach old-age, psychological trainers are required, too. Healthcare and Medicare-related issues exist, and psychologists find it hard to practice openly, giving rise to difficulties, for society, in accessing them. Psychologists are in high demand in medical settings involving elderly patients, as primary care facilities are not equipped to meet their mental health requirements (Abel, 2013).

The age criteria, alone, serves unsatisfactory for accessing services in old age. No individual should have to attend mental well-being services of elderly individuals based only on their age, nor must they be disallowed to attend other services, which better satisfy their need. Younger patients may also be benefited by certain mental healthcare services for the aged, for instance, individuals with dementia rearing its ugly head in youth. In case of individuals who are already recipients of mental healthcare services, one can't find any reason to transfer them to services for older patients, merely owing to their age; this must be done only in the event their mental health requirements have undergone a change, and services for the elderly would satisfy them more effectively. It is imperative for different mental health-related services to collaborate, when required, for making decisions on the basis of individual patients' requirements, and to maintain clear accountability always, to facilitate patient improvement (RCP, 2009).

5. Among the elderly, one widespread and expensive problem is anxiety disorders. With demographic shifts in general population, old-age anxiety disorders will be seen to increase societal and individual cost. Old-age anxiety disorders' identification and diagnosis is compounded by deterioration in cognition, medical comorbidity, and life circumstance changes not experienced by younger people. Moreover, the report and manifestation of symptoms of anxiety can vary with age. Thus, old-age anxiety disorders may, rather more likely, remain underdiagnosed as compared….....

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