The myths of ancient Greece tell about how a terrible monster sat on the way to G.Piva and forced to allow the riddle: “Tell me who walks on four legs in the morning, on the day on two, and in the evening on three? Nobody on the ground changes like him. None of the Fivaries found an answer, and people died in the claws of the sphinx. None of an instant,“ This is a man! When he is small, when the morning of his life, he is weak and slowly crawls on all fours. During the day, i.e. In adulthood, he walks on two legs, and in the evening, i.e. In old age, he becomes decrepit and needs support, takes a crutch; Then he walks on three legs. "So the old age was presented 25 centuries ago, when Sophocles wrote about the sphinx, so many people think about it to this day.
The problem of studying psychological capabilities in old age is not only scientifically relevant, but also vital,Since traditionally old age was perceived as the age of sadness, loss, longing and suffering from pain, which potentially lurks in the body of every old person.
However, considering old age as an age of development, researchers indicate significant differences in the manifestation of individual signs of aging. The very fact that everyone is aging in different ways indicates that sadness and grief are not the only destiny of an old person, and extinction is not the only way of change.This age is distinguished by a special purpose, a specific role in the human life cycle system: it is old age that ensures the general prospect of personality development, the connection of times and generations.Only from the perspective of an elderly person can one deeply understand and explain life as a whole, its essence and meaning, its circumstances before previous and subsequent generations.
An elderly age is not a static state, but a dynamic process. It is associated with specific changes in living conditions, many of which unfortunately have a negative coloring. They belong to them: a change in physical capabilities, the loss of a social situation associated with the work performed, a change in the functions in the family, death or the threat of the loss of a loved one.
Of course, there are positive aspects of changes in the life situation: the presence of a large amount of free time, the opportunity to do what love, devote yourself to entertainment and hobbies.
In domestic psychology, the problem of the personality of an elderly person is considered in the context of the attitude of people to their aging. Thus, various forms of behavior of older people in the same type of situation reflect the features of response to their own aging. It is this side of a person’s mental life that determines his attitude to personal losses, the loss of past opportunities, as well as a new perception of the environment. In other words,Each person at this age arises the question of developing an attitude to his own old age.Neither good health, nor the preservation of an active lifestyle, nor a high social situation, nor the presence of a spouse and children are a guarantee and guarantee of an understanding of the elderly as a favorable period of life.
In the presence of these signs, each individually or all combined, an elderly person can consider himself flawed and not fully accept his age. And, on the contrary, with poor physical health, modest material prosperity, loneliness, a person can be in harmony with his age and will be able to see the positive aspects of his life, to feel joy.
Psychologists distinguish several types of socio-psychological types of old age.
The first type is an active creative old age, when veterans are leaving for a well -deserved rest, continue to participate in public life, the education of youth, live a full -blooded life, without experiencing any inferiority.
The second type - is characterized by the fact that pensioners are engaged in business that before there was simply no time: self -education, rest and psychological adaptation, adaptability and flexibility, but energy is directed mainly to itself. The third type (mainly women) find the main application of their forces in the family. And since the homework is inexhaustible, the women who are engaged in it is simply no time to hack, be bored, but it should be noted: satisfaction with the lives of this group of people is lower than the first two.
The fourth type is people whose sense of life becomes concern for their own health. A variety of forms of activity and moral satisfaction are associated with this. At the same time, a tendency (more often in men) to the exaggeration of real and imaginary diseases, increased anxiety is found.
The fifth type can be classified by people who are hostile to both others and themselves. People with this attitude are aggressive, hot -tempered and suspicious, strive to “shift” to others guilt and responsibility for their own failures, and do not quite adequately assess reality. Distrust and suspicion make them close themselves, avoid contacts with other people.
Such people, as a rule, avoid memories, because in their life there were many failures and difficulties. They are passive, do not rebel against their own old age, meekly accept what fate sends them. Feelings of loneliness, loss of the meaning of life are combined with this state and often lead to depression and suicide. In such cases, the help of a psychologist is necessary.
Much has been written about old age, but little is known. The greatest secret of old age remained undisclosed in the fact that chronological peers of this age can relate to various psychological ages: one elderly person experiences love - he returned back during his youth; Another continues his creative professional activity - he is in adulthood; The third devoted his life to the concerns of his own fading health, his destiny - talking about doctors and medicines - is really old age.
An analysis of literature on the psychology of old age and patience, biographies of creative people who have survived to advanced years allows us to conclude that old age, as a psychological age, may not come in human life. The condition for lasting or growing maturity is creativity in all its manifestations, including the work of one’s own life, each of its days. The experience of extending your own life in children, incomplete business, the experience of social immortality is the conditions for overcoming aging as wilting and degradation.
The spiritual harmony of this age is purification of affect, the balanced thought and the depth of feelings. If life ended with old age-catastrophe, old age-dejection, then it would not make sense. Life can and should end with old age-harmonia, old age and wise and for this it is worth living.
Author
Psychologist Minsk
city geriatric center
Savina N.V.
