The disengagement theory suggests that the older an individual gets, the more disengaged they may become. They may withdraw from individuals and from society. The 1997 article written by Baltes and Lang’s suggested that “the disengagement model views success as acceptance of and reconciliation with the loss of power epidemic in old age.” To me the disengagement theory is saying that when the adult understands that they are getting older, they are able to accept the fact that the things they use to do, they may not be able to do anymore, due to their age, physical limitations, etc. Contributing factors to the disengagement theory: the adult accepts the fact that they are aging, and will expect death; disengagement is different from men and women because women are nurturers, while the men are providers, and when the children grow up and are no longer in the home, the woman may feel disengaged; and when the man no longer can work, he may get the feeling of disengagement. Contributing factors to the activity theory states that when you are aging successfully, you don’t expect death, rather you continue to stay active, and find new things that they can get involved in. When attempting to think of some comparisons between disengagement and activity theories as related to employment the only one I could think of was that they discussed how people accept getting older. Some of the differences between the disengagement and activity theories that I came up with in terms of employment, is that the disengagement theory would suggest that the aging adult would no longer work and become socially isolated. Although the aging adult is not working in the activity theory, they will go and join different community organizations, and be more involved in volunteer work. I found it helpful to read about both of these theories because I was able to gain a better awareness as to why some older adults are bubbly and outgoing; while others become more isolated and withdrawn. LaTasha Hickman References: Baltes, M.M. and Lang, F.R. (1997). Everyday functioning and successful aging: the impact of resources. Psychology and aging, volume 12, issue 3, pages 433-43. The disengagement theory suggests that the older an individual gets, the more disengaged they may become. They may withdraw from individuals and from society. The 1997 article written by Baltes and Lang’s suggested that “the disengagement model views success as acceptance of and reconciliation with the loss of power epidemic in old age.” To me the disengagement theory is saying that when the adult understands that they are getting older, they are able to accept the fact that the things they use to do, they may not be able to do anymore, due to their age, physical limitations, etc. Contributing factors to the disengagement theory: the adult accepts the fact that they are aging, and will expect death; disengagement is different from men and women because women are nurturers, while the men are providers, and when the children grow up and are no longer in the home, the woman may feel disengaged; and when the man no longer can work, he may get the feeling of disengagement. Contributing factors to the activity theory states that when you are aging successfully, you don’t expect death, rather you continue to stay active, and find new things that they can get involved in. When attempting to think of some comparisons between disengagement and activity theories as related to employment the only one I could think of was that they discussed how people accept getting older. Some of the differences between the disengagement and activity theories that I came up with in terms of employment, is that the disengagement theory would suggest that the aging adult would no longer work and become socially isolated. Although the aging adult is not working in the activity theory, they will go and join different community organizations, and be more involved in volunteer work. I found it helpful to read about both of these theories because I was able to gain a better awareness as to why some older adults are bubbly and outgoing; while others become more isolated and withdrawn. LaTasha Hickman References: Baltes, M.M. and Lang, F.R. (1997). Everyday functioning and successful aging: the impact of resources. Psychology and aging, volume 12, issue 3, pages 433-43.