ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses self-imagery, social behavior, and other characteristics of the elderly, themselves. Self is seen as the social psychological link between individual and society. Sociologically, extra-individual forces such as changes in the social environment, or crises in groups resulting from the death of a family member, childbirth, or forced retirement are critical and potentially stressful factors in the determination of self-imagery. The chapter discusses that no relationship between chronological age and self-image. The lack of negative influence of chronological aging on self-image may be explained by the elderly person's own expectations of growing old and becoming decreasingly active in physical and social functioning. Public images of nursing and boarding homes, and other long-term care institutions have generally been negative. There were no significant differences between male and female selfimagery. Level of educational attainment and income are two indicators frequently used by sociologists as measures of differences in socioeconomic status.