Continuity Theory

(noun)

The continuity theory of normal aging states that older adults will usually maintain the same activities, behaviors, personality traits, and relationships as they did in their earlier years of life.

Related Terms

  • Internal Structures
  • External Structures

Examples of Continuity Theory in the following topics:

  • Continuity Theory

    • The continuity theory proposes that older adults maintain the same activities, behaviors, personalities, and relationships of the past.
    • The theory considers the internal structures and external structures of continuity to describe how people adapt to their circumstances and set their goals.
    • Maddox and Robert Atchley are most closely associated with the continuity theory.
    • " He continued to expound upon the theory over the years, explaining the development of internal and external structures in 1989 and publishing a book in 1999 called Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences.
    • Examine the pros and cons of the continuity theory of aging, specifically in terms of how it neglects to consider social institutions or chronically ill adults
  • The Origins of Language

    • These theories can be called continuity-based theories.
    • Continuity-based theories are currently held by a majority of scholars, but they vary in how they envision this development.
    • Other continuity-based models see language as having developed from music.
    • Theories that stress continuity often look at animals to see if, for example, primates display any traits that can be seen as analogous to what pre-human language must have been like.
    • Compare and contrast continuity-based theories and discontinuity-based theories about the origin of language
  • Conflict

    • Conflict theory emphasizes interests deployed in conflict, rather than the norms and values.
    • Thus, the theory sees conflict as a normal part of social life, rather than an abnormal occurrence.
    • The three tenets of conflict theory are as follows:
    • While societies may portray a sense of cooperation, a continual power struggle exists between social groups as they pursue their own interests.
    • Conflict theory further argues that group A will continue to search for resources in order to keep group B from getting them, leading to the exploitation of the powerless.
  • Social Movement Theories

    • There are two significant problems with this theory.
    • members are recruited through networks; commitment is maintained by building a collective identity and continuing to nurture interpersonal relationships
    • Critics of the political process theory and resource-mobilization theory point out that neither theory discusses movement culture to any great degree.
    • Culture theory builds upon both the political process and resource-mobilization theories but extends them in two ways.
    • Both resource-mobilization theory and political process theory include a sense of injustice in their approaches.
  • Resource Mobilization Approach

    • The resource-mobilization approach is a theory that seeks to explain the emergence of social movements.
    • Resource-Mobilization Theory emphasizes the importance of resources in social movement development and success.
    • Resource mobilization theory also divides social movements according to their position among other social movements.
    • members are recruited through networks; commitment is maintained by building a collective identity and continuing to nurture interpersonal relationships
    • Resource-Mobilization Theory emphasizes the importance of resources in social movement development and success.
  • Theoretical Perspectives on Childhood Socialization

    • One of the most widely applied theories of childhood is Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development.
    • The child learns that he is separate from his environment and that aspects of his environment, such as his parents or a toy, continue to exist even though they may be outside of his sensory field.
    • In 1979, psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner published The Ecology of Human Development, setting forth his theory known as ecological systems theory.
    • This video explains Piaget's theory of cognitive development and includes footage of the type of experiments Piaget performed to develop his theory.
    • Contrast the various theories of childhood development, such as Freud's psychosexual theory, Piaget's stages of development and ecological systems theory
  • Intergenerational Conflict

    • The conflict perspective of aging is a strand of general sociological conflict theory, which is the theory that sees conflict as a normal aspect of social life rather than as an abnormal occurrence.
    • Conflict theory has three main premises: first, that society is comprised of different groups that compete for resources; second, that despite social attempts to portray a sense of cooperation, a continual power struggle exists between social groups as they pursue their own divergent and competing interests; third, social groups will use resources to their own advantage in pursuit of their own goals, even if it means taking advantage of another group of people.
    • The theory developed in 1980s as unemployment rose dramatically.
    • As such, the economic climate of the era in which the theory developed influenced the content of the theory itself.
    • According to conflict theory, generations of people are in competition with one another for power and resources.
  • The Feminist Perspective

    • Feminist theory analyzes gender stratification through the intersection of gender, race, and class.
    • Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical or philosophical discourse.
    • Feminist theory uses the conflict approach to examine the reinforcement of gender roles and inequalities.
    • In light of this theory, the oppression and marginalization of women is thus shaped not only by gender, but by other factors such as race and class.
    • It was-- and continues to be-- important to recognize that white women faced a different form of discrimination than working class women of color, who not only had to deal with sexism, but also fought against racism and class oppression.
  • Disengagement Theory

    • As such, the theory argues that it is natural and acceptable for older adults to withdraw from society.
    • Disengagement theory was the first theory of aging developed by social scientists.
    • When neither is ready, continuing engagement results.
    • When the individual is ready and society is not, a disjunction between the expectations of the individual and of the members of this social systems results, but engagement usually continues.
    • Disengagement theory suggests that adults become increasingly withdrawn as they get older.
  • Gender Messages in the Family

    • Gender role theory posits that boys and girls learn the appropriate behavior and attitudes from the family with which they grow up.
    • Gender role theory posits that boys and girls learn the appropriate behavior and attitudes from the family and overall culture in which they grow up, and that non-physical gender differences are a product of socialization.
    • Social role theory proposes that social structure is the underlying force behind gender differences, and that the division of labor between two sexes within a society motivates the differences in their respective behavior.
    • Socialization theory tells us that primary socialization - the process that occurs when a child learns the attitudes, values and actions expected of individuals within a particular culture - is the most important phase of social development, and lays the groundwork for all future socialization.
    • Children learn continuously from the environment that adults create, including gender norms.
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