Aging , The Natural Process. A Psychoanalytic Point of View
Psychiatry Medical Report
by: A. Lorenzo Lucino Jr, Medical Intern
Aging is a natural process of life and we all age from the day we were born to the day that we die, the body continues in this natural progression of life, which translates in changes in the physiological body as well as human psychology and function. When one regards the phenomenon that is aging, one has to take into consideration the negative and positive factors, in this case, healthy aging and unhealthy aging. Healthy aging refers to the positive factors that an individual goes through throughout retirement, and the positives in aging. This may include the practices of eating healthy, exercising actively, maintaining social relationships and a support group while one ages. Unhealthy aging is the antithesis of healthy aging, this term may regard to the negative aspects of aging attributed to bad health practices of an individual such as smoking, drinking, a lack of support group as one ages (Growing Old In A New Age, 1993).
One has to take into consideration the natural processes of career development and how these processes plays a role in retirement, the psychological effects of people in retiring age. This is best observed in Donald Super’s Five Stages of Career Development; his career stages included the Growth stage, Exploration stage, Establishment stage, Maintenance stage and the Disengagement stage (Bjorklund and Bee, 2008). In regards to retirement , it is rather interesting that there is such a stark contrast in the male and female work schedule. Bjorklund and Bee mentions that more men work full time than women , importantly, more men maintain a constant work schedule as compared to women, who have to worry about taking maternity leave, sick leave as compared to men. Women are also more willing to work part time jobs than men, as well as the fact that women are more inclined to move in and out of full time jobs more frequently than men (Bjorklund and Bee, 2008). Despite the fact that more and more women are taking more active roles and positions in the work force, it is rather interesting to note that men are still being paid higher wages than women for doing the same work. This affects the notion of retirement and the prospect of retirement in that due to this stark difference in work schedules and contributions, could result in differences in social security payment for men and women.
Retirement and the prospect of retirement is rather dependent on social security , which was established some 60 years ago during the post-Great Depression Years, and because of this institutionalized system, could allow some sort of reprieve for workers. It is also important to note that job satisfaction, work and personal life affects the choice in retiring from a particular profession. If a professional enjoys his profession and receives not only economic rewards, but also emotional, social and physical rewards from the job, he or she is less likely to retire from the profession when he or she is reaching retiring age, but would rather choose to work part time. As compared to an individual who had less interest in the work place and would probably take the option or retiring early (Bjorklund and Bee, 2008).
One also has to take into consideration how marriage and family life affects work and the prospect of work. It is evidenced that married men will earn a higher income as compared to unmarried men, likewise, married men are absent from work less than unmarried men (Bjorklund and Bee, 2008). Elizabeth Gorman notes that married men and women are usually more interested and focused on the prospects of a job than single men and women (Bjorklund and Bee, 2008). One can argue that due to the fiscal responsibilities of married couples, which might include paying off a mortgage loan, ensuring that their children finish college and find a stable profession etc. All of these said fiscal responsibilities and duties might play a significant role in a couple’s decision to retire from a job, or even delay retirement definitely. One has to understand that retirement will have particular effects, including a change in income, change in insurance coverage, and thus could play a role in the decision to retire or delaying retirement for some time. A couple who is in the retirement age, have no children, paid off their financial responsibilities would be more willing to retire than say a couple in retiring age that still had children in college, still paying for mortgage and other secondary expenses.
In regards to Bjorlund and Bee’s teaching on the effects of retirement and the notion of the feminization of poverty. However, it must say that I do agree that retirement is more possible in this epoch because of the presence of social security, retirement benefits, pensions, as well as assets that are available as compared to say some 70 years ago when an individual was expected to work till he or she died.
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