Myths of the Elderly

The lecture article, "Myths of Aging," by Florence L. Denmark explores the myths and fallacious statements that have continually plagued the elderly. It seems as though the general perception in society is once an individual reaches the age of 60, that they no longer can enjoy their everyday living and are relegated to something that has no functioning capacity within their environment. Denmark guides the reader through the stereotypical assumptions that are pervasive such as the mental health of the elderly; that the elderly do not enjoy being older; and one of the more common ones regarding the sexual capacity and interest of older individuals. The lecture article is both eye-opening and profound as it extensively rips the myths apart and aligns with the life course perspective.

Denmark states that one of the more evident myths about the elderly is their mental health. A commonly shared belief among many is that elderly people are frequently depressed and have high emotional distress. The myth is "touted in the media and embraced" (Denmark, 2002). While such assertions are not surprising to Denmark, that they are purported on a routine basis, Denmark notes that research proves otherwise. Denmark cites Feinson (1985) who performed research to investigate said distresses that society felt the elderly encountered. Two specific questions were asked by Feinson in accordance with the psychological health of older adults. The research unearthed more physical ailments rather than emotional ones. While our emotional wellbeing can be correlated to our physical wellbeing, for Feinson (1985), the stereotype that all elderly are psychologically distressed did not match what the studies uncovered. Therefore, from Denmark's lecture, it stands to reason that, that particular myth is indeed nothing but mumbo jumbo - or rather unfounded accusations about the elderly.

Denmark (2002) also denounces the myth about the so-called youth-obsessed older adult. Citing a study done by Field (1997), Denmark expresses that societal reasoning feels that once individuals turn a certain age that they want to revisit their youth. This relates to the proverb regarding once a man (or woman) twice a child in that we never actually grow up as people, but rather adapt to our objectives and the mature understanding that we are expected to grasp. The study was performed by Field (1997) that Denmark discusses is more of an interview-based study on young adults, middle-aged adults and young old adults (ages 65-75) and old-old adults (over 85). In essence, what the study found was that older individuals do not necessarily have the desire to relive their childhood as much as societal reasoning assumes. "Contrary to the myth of the youth-obsessed older adult, the era of childhood does not become more cherished with age" (Denmark, 2002).

Another common myth that is pervasive is the one that once an individual reaches what is deemed by society as elderly, they have a "decrease in sexual interest and a diminished capacity for sexual behavior [as] an intrinsic part of the aging process" (Denmark, 2002). The general consensus here is that as the body ages, the elderly person can no longer perform sexually and no longer has a desire to have sex. Denmark states that much of this is illustrated by the assumption that older people do not have sex because they are...well, old. Such attitudes are stereotypical generalizations because we as a society have no knowledge and understanding of what an elderly individual is doing in their everyday lives and while we can assume so to speak, generalizing the "sexual experiences of the elderly" (Demark, 2002) whether they are participating in sexual activities or not is morally reprehensible. Who are we as younger individuals (which is where most of the attitudes of this myth come from) to project our daft and idiotic ideals onto the elderly? Denmark raises that question by citing an exercise adapted from Hammond (1987) and a Brandeis University study noted reported by Rubin (1976). 

Contrary to the popular myths about the elderly that society has in short concocted per their own ideologies, Denmark warns that such extensive stereotypes are negative for those of us who are not elderly and for the mental health of the elderly because they are such boilerplate conjecture. The lecture article refutes one by one the closely guarded imaginative fables that we hold so dear. Denmark essentially points out that we have a lot to learn as individuals in our thinking about the elderly as we ourselves will one day be elderly too.

References

Denmark, F. L. (2002, March 22). Myths of Aging. Retrieved August 30, 2013, from Psi Chi - The International Honor Society in Psychology website: http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_38.aspx