M.A. (Counselling Psychology) / The process of retirement is perceived by many as the 'end of' rather than the 'beginning of ' an important part of their life. As Michelan (in Osgood, 1982, p.29) says, " the major dilemma facing the retired elderly is essentially how to substitute a new set of personal values and new kinds of activities for the life long job of earning a living, raising a family, and overcoming the day-to-day obstacles which effect income, status and career." One is immediately led to ask whether retirement does indeed entail unstructured free time, new activities and role characteristics or whether the aging persons in question are not being ascribed a preconceived, stereotyped role in society - distantly removed from the real experience of this relatively newly created developmental phase in human life. For example, Achenbaum (in Graebner, 1980, p.11) feels that in the pas t, American elderly people were valued for their insight into the sources of longevity, for their wisdom in creating a new world order for the United States, for the moral guidance they could bring to youth, for their knowledge of farming, and for their performance of domestic duties. However, these categories of 'usefulness' conceal a peculiar softness - the aged being valued for little more than their knowledge, advice and guidance.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:12473 |
| Date | 07 October 2014 |
| Creators | Celliers, Ettienne Mark |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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