Convenor
Vislawath Jagadeesh
Karnatak Art College, Karnatak University
Abstract
“Old age, is characterized by an utter sense of hopelessness towards the world. A sense of loss shadowed by loneliness, lack of care, respect for self and others. Conflict arises when the sick, tired mind and body cannot cope with psychological, emotional and physical stress. Sociological aging refers to the social habits and roles which the aged are expected to incorporate relative to the expectations of their society or culture. Sociological aging according to Bose is effected bychanges and advancements in the society.Psychological aging can be studied under different perspectives like decline in the intellectual and creative capabilities, personality potentialities, decrease of adaptive and survival skills, lack of flexibility etc. All these perspectives of the process of aging are based on the ‘individual differences’ concept and, according to Hurlock , interact to accelerate the aging process by speeding up the rate of decline. The field of gerontology encompasses all the three perspectives.
Old age in India used to be characterized by high status and responsibilities towards the family. The spiritual commitments of the young such as Pitrarinna made it mandatory for them to look after the aged. The aged were also bound philosophically to act as a counseling unitin their ‘Vanprastha Ashram’ and subsequently retire into the “Sanyas Ashram”.In a social anthropological study of a south Indian village, the aged were not treated as an isolated unit of the village society, Rather they were actively involved in dispensing duties towards the family and carrying on the customs of the caste. The investigator observed that the attitude of the youth was changing towards the aged. They were becoming more impatient with them. This was due to education, economic mobility and increased contact with the outer world having contrasting social values or norms. In the present times, the aged have become an isolated unit, the caring traditions of the youth have changed due to rapid industrialization, westernization and modernization of the Indian society. The major factor being the breaking up of the joint family system. The nuclear family system which has replaced the joint system is more practical and economical. This conflicting preference, has given rise to ‘quasi-joint’ families where in the aged are given financial help and social responsibilities by absentee children. Hence the author concludes that family emotional support to the aged exists in the form of financial and social help