my name is Elizabeth and my presentation today is on psychosocial theories of aging how people age depends on personality factors and circumstances those who view it positively will embrace it better than those who do not the three approaches that I am going to talk about today on how we age are disengagement theory activity theory and continuity theory disengagement theory is defined as those in late adulthood often involve a gradual withdrawal from the world on a physical psychological and social level on a physical level elderly people have lower energy levels so they are not able to do certain activities they may have done in the past on a psychological level they begin to show less interest in things that are going on around them and they spend more time looking inward on a social level they are less engaged in everyday interactions like face-to-face conversations and just with society as a whole social social isolation is very popular condition with the elderly generation it can affect a person's well-being health and quality of life support for the disengagement theory is limited it is also being criticized because it seems to blame the elderly for not being engaged a little disengagement is not necessarily a bad thing a gradual withdrawal may allow for reflection on a person's life activity theory originated from the lack of support from the disengagement theory activity theory is defined as that successful aging occurs when people maintain the interest and activities of middle age and the amount and type of their social interaction this theory suggests that continuing of activities is important for example continuing some type of work after retirement for some though the activity theory may have a different meaning for some elderly the principle of less is more may bring more enjoyment to them less activity means they can slow down and do the things that bring them the greatest satisfaction continuity theory suggests that people need to maintain their desired level of involvement in society in order to maximize their sense of well-being and self-esteem in other words if you were active in the church a school or small group then staying active in those things in later life will bring you the most satisfaction the same goes if you enjoyed reading or taking walks other factors enhance happiness like a sense of independence financial stability and good physical and mental health