AGES8022 Psychological Dimensions of Ageing

2019

4.5

1 x 2-hour tutorial weekly
1 x 2-hour independent study weekly
1 x 40-hour on-line exercises per semester
4 x 60-minute on-line tutorials per semester

1 Admission into MAG-Master of Applied Gerontology
1a Admission into MPCAC-Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care
1b Admission into GCDCL-Graduate Certificate in Dementia Care and Leadership
1c Admission into MCBH-Master of Counselling (Behavioural Health)
1d Admission into GCACAFP-Graduate Certificate in Aged Care Administration - Flinders City Campus
1e Admission into GCACA-Graduate Certificate in Aged Care Administration
1f Admission into GCOACW-Graduate Certificate in Older Adult Care and Wellbeing
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c or 1d or 1e or 1f))

AGES8003 has been successfully completed

Familiarity in the use of literature and accessing relevant data bases including OVID Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and any others appropriate to the area of study.

Available to post graduate students only

Library Exercise; Practical Work

Ageing is placed within a lifespan framework (P. Baltes & M. Baltes) and emphasis is on how the ageing mind, the ageing self and an individual's social and psychological resources combine to promote the ageing experience. The implications of ageing will be explored from a range of psychological traditions. Key national and international psychological research evidence will be examined and the application of psychology to the understanding of mental functioning and behaviour will be considered. Psychological concepts and measures of well-being, life satisfaction, mood, self esteem, mastery and autonomy as they relate to ageing will be explored. Concepts of positive and active ageing will be described and a distinction between primary and secondary ageing will be emphasised throughout. Successful and pathological forms of psychological ageing will also be considered; selected topics will touch on ageing among CALD groups and Indigenous Australians.

The general aim of this topic is to increase your knowledge of psychological development during ageing.

The implications of ageing will be explored from a range of psychological traditions, in particular the Life Span Developmental Psychology framework. Key psychological material will be examined to provide an evidence base upon which to understand psychological ageing. The application of psychology to the understanding of mental (cognitive) functioning and behaviour will be considered to illustrate the unique role that psychology has to play in gerontology.

Psychological concepts and measures of memory, psychological well-being, self beliefs or perceptions (e.g., about self-esteem, mastery, control, autonomy, etc), and mood, as they relate to ageing will be explored. Concepts of positive and active ageing, life-long development (within- or intra-individual change), and diversity (inter-individual differences) will be described and a distinction between primary and secondary ageing will be emphasised.

Knowledge:

At the conclusion of this topic students should be able to identify, explain and critically evaluate:

• issues in human ageing based upon elements of diversity and ageing from a psychological perspective
• the role of 'cultural resources' in promoting or hindering ageing well
• different representations, and degrees, of successful ageing
• primary (normal) age-related changes in cognitive functioning and sense of self
• ways to assess cognitive functioning in older Australians, including Indigenous Australians
• depression and dementia in older adults
• how individual behaviour changes may influence future cohorts of older adults
• the concept of "successful ageing" and work to achieve successful ageing for yourself and those around you

Skills:

Students should

• develop independence in identification and generation of resource materials on psychological ageing
• appreciate the diverse range of methodologies that psychologists use to understand ageing
• recognise that ageing is a process and that it has many unique representations at the individual level.

Attitudes:

Students should have

• a better appreciation of the positive aspects of ageing
• a reduction in any pre-existing ageist attitudes