Abstract
The field of social gerontology has grown enormously in the last decade. However, the abundance of theories, information, and publications leaves the reader somewhat bewildered. On the one hand, there are the many “medically influenced” publications that present “aging as a catastrophe,... (the elderly) as damaged (and) incapable of new growth” (Gutmann, 1994, p. 9). On the other hand, social gerontology, with its branches of personality, cognitive, and social psychology, basically portrays a very positive picture of aging; it depicts the aged enjoying years of happiness and well-being as they move through outlined adult stages and tasks to be fulfilled. It is easy to arrange the publications in two piles labeled “optimistic” and “pessimistic.” Given the ease of such an exercise, one wonders what gives rise to such divergent findings and theories? What are their overt and covert assumptions? Here, one is led to the underlying notions of human nature or the image of man.
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Lomranz, J. (1998). An Image of Aging and the Concept of Aintegration. In: Lomranz, J. (eds) Handbook of Aging and Mental Health. The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0098-2_11
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