Subjective Views of Aging: A Cultural Perspective

As humans, we have the unique ability to reflect on the course of our development. In other words, our age is more than the mere time which has passed since birth, and consequently, we are able to form a distinct and personal view of how our aging process may progress, and how we perceive older adults and our own aging selves. These subjective views may serve as a basis for self-comparisons to our past and current ideal self, as well to the way we expect to further develop in the future. In this chapter, we argue that the humans unique personal perspective on both age stereotypes and subjective aging cannot be removed from the cultural world in which we live. Accordingly, it is feasible that individuals who are a part of a given society/culture may tend to perceive how the aging process should (and perhaps would) commence through a culture-based prism. We describe several prominent theories pertaining to the aging process and demonstrate how cultural factors may be relevant for their theoretical stipulations. Next, we review research conducted among different societies, and highlight cultural differences and similarities in age stereotypes and subjective aging. Finally, we suggest future directions which may prove useful in linking society and culture to the formulation and internalization of views on aging. Ultimately, we propose that understanding cultural aspects of views on aging necessitates the examinations of cultural subgroups within a given society.