Death and Dying
The concept of aging is not a function of biological progression with time. Instead, it is influenced by social norms that shape the entire life as well as the physical bodily changes that occur during the aging process. Although most aspects of the aging experience are dependent on factors such as social class and gender, all the older adults experience the loss of infancy, childhood, and adolescence, which are essential stages of human lives (Field & Cassel, 1997). This essay is purposed to describe attitudes held by adults on death and dying, which are fueled by the feelings of loss of essential functions associated with the mentioned stages.
The first type of loss that an older adult experiences at the early stages of life are the loss of infancy. After birth, a person passes an extended period when they are dependent on the primary caregivers. However, when a person reaches an age of maturing, they realize that the infancy stage is gone and that it is irreversible (Field & Cassel, 1997). Infancy can be said to be an irreversible case in that; once it has occurred, it can never be repeated. Eventually, a person enters the second stage of life, yielding the second type of loss that older adults experience; childhood. In this stage, a person enjoys life, and the providence of the caregivers liberally without any worries about life flaws or problems. Again, once a person matures and leaves this stage, there is no coming back from a previous phase (Field & Cassel, 1997).
Adolescence is the third type of loss experienced by older adults. At this stage, important lessons about life, such as self-respect and behavior, are learned. A person’s primary concern during this age is the focus is on meeting basic needs, and eventually, they become engrossed in activities to preserve the future without looking back at the last phases. At the onset of adultery, a person has experienced the loss of three main stages, which are equally relevant in shaping the old age but are irreversible.
People start perceiving aging when they lose some of the physical abilities that they possessed at earlier stages. Erickson defined this as a stage where people reflect on the kind of life they have lived and may experience despair or be satisfied with their life experience. Gradually, the fear of death becomes associated with old age (Death – The Psychology Of Dying). Culture has a significant input on the beliefs that people hold about death. In some cultures, the loss of the three identified stages represents a natural termination to a long, fruitful life.
On the other hand, the thought of death may be frightening to think about, and most aging people tend to use denial and strong resistance to death as a defense mechanism. A person then becomes angry at the loss of the physical potentials which they previously held during their earlier stages (Death – The Psychology of Dying). Gradually, a person may try to negotiate with the higher power to postpone their deaths by reforming their way of life. As the struggle becomes hopeless, the person resolves for the fourth stage of depression and finally accepts death as an inevitable course. The loss usually shapes these feelings that the aged people are experiencing; the loss of infancy, childhood, and adolescence, all of which are irreversible once they pass. However, most of the older adults are usually concerned about the dying process and the emotional impacts on those left behind. Death is a frightening reality whose impact on older adults is compounded by the feeling of loss of the three discussed potentials.
References
Field, M. J., & Cassel, C. K. (1997). A profile of death and dying in America. In Approaching death: improving care at the end of life. National Academies Press (US).
Death – The Psychology Of Dying. Science.jrank.org. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://science.jrank.org/pages/8941/Death-Psychology-Dying.html.