| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1081882 | Journal of Aging Studies | 2012 | 8 Pages |
Successful aging, though controversial, is used as an overarching conceptual framework in social gerontology. In this theory critique, the discourse of successful aging is identified as problematic with respect to four dimensions. First, successful aging is ageist in nature, and it produces a disharmony between body and mind. Second, successful aging, with the emphasis on quantifiable activities driven by the “busy ethic,” overlooks the deeper concern of quality experience. Third, the capitalist and consumerist components of successful aging are under-addressed. Fourth, successful aging is a discourse developed upon Western (specifically American) values and thus may not readily apply to other cultures.Harmonious aging, as proposed, is inspired by the Yin–Yang philosophy. Harmony refers to the balance based on differences instead of uniformity. This new discourse aims to recognize the challenges and opportunities of old age itself, ease the tension between activity and disengagement theories, heal the integrity of body and mind, and emphasize the interdependent nature of human beings. The call for the discourse shift attempts to promote intellectual exploration of what constitutes a good old age and to capture more cross-cultural diversities in the context of global aging. This theoretical endeavor is important to change the status quo of gerontology as being “data rich but theory poor,” and to contribute to cross-cultural gerontological research, education and communication.
► We criticize the discourse of successful aging in four respects: its ageist nature, quantifiable measures, the under-addressed ideology of capitalism and consumerism, and its cultural blindness. ► We propose a new discourse—harmonious aging—which is inspired by the Eastern philosophy. ► This new discourse has the potential to recognize the challenges and opportunities of old age itself, ease the tension between activity and disengagement theories, heal the integrity of body and mind, and emphasize the interdependent nature of human beings. ► The call for the discourse shift attempts to promote intellectual exploration of what constitutes a good old age and to facilitate education and communication in cross-cultural aging studies.
