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Ageing

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By dhrishtirupani
Words 6050
Pages 25
Cognition across the Lifespan
Week 7
Ageing
Age is determined by the number of years or this is our Chronological Age, however if we want to know about what an individual is like, this is not a very reliable measure. This is because people of the same chronological age vary in their physical and mental state. People also tend to judge others by their Social Age. Or social behaviors that are acceptable at a certain chronological age. Therefore we do not expect grandparents to play on skateboards than we expect teenagers to walk around with sticks. So when does old age technically begin?? There is no proper age wherein a person just turns old in one day, but modern gerontologists suggests that it usually starts between the ages of 60-65. That’s when in majority of people there are significant if not dramatic changes in mental and physical functioning. Again it is important to stress that 1. There is no single point at which a person automatically becomes old and 2. Chronological age is in any case an essentially arbitrary measure.
Ageing and Stereotypes
The term “ageism” was coined by Robert Butler, M.D., in 1968. Dr. Butler is a geriatrician who saw that society had developed myths, stereotypes and misunderstandings about people as they age.
Graham Mulley in 2006 stated that the negative images of ageing (both historical and contemporary) have resulted in misconceptions which have influenced how we think, speak and behave.
Evolution of these stereotypes according to Mulley:
Sculptures: One of Norway’s artistic highlights is the sculpture park in Oslo. Vigeland has modeled over 600 life sized figures. All ages are represented: children play, young men and women dream and embrace. The section devoted to old age is austere – some subjects are ugly and others look depressed; disabled people are tended by ageing caregivers. Other European sculptors iterate the

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