Reference no: EM133732131

Question: Theories on aging in the textbook include activity theory, disengagement theory, and social reconstruction syndrome theory. These three theories offer different implications and outlooks on how a person ages and interacts with others. The activity theory "asserts that the more physically and mentally active people are, the more successfully they will age" (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, & Hessenaeur, 2019, p. 683). The disengagement theory refers "to a process whereby people respond to aging by gradually withdrawing from the various roles and social relationships they occupied in middle age" (Zastrow, et al., 2019, p. 684). The social reconstruction syndrome theory believes that "our society should liberate older people from unrealistic standards and expectations. The belief that self-worth depends on a person's productivity has adverse consequences for those who are retired" (Zastrow, et al., 2019, p. 685). With that being said, I believe the activity theory does the best job of explaining the aging process. I say this because when individuals are relatively healthy and strive to stay that way, they typically have more of a positive outlook and quality of life. When older individuals stay active it keeps their body, mind, and social engagement up. Meaning, this theory and staying active can reduce the risk of disease, psychological issues, dependence, health issues, etc. To conclude, I believe the activity theory is the best for explaining the aging process because it suggests that older individuals can maintain their well-being and overall lifestyle.