Cultural-historical determinants of aging: past and present

Abstract

In the present article considers the problem of cultural-historical determinants of aging that are relevant to developmental psychology, clinical psychology, gerontology and geriatrics.The author conducts a comparative analysis of the perception of old age in different cultures and in different historical periods. The special urgency of the theme chosen is related to global demographic changes and the need for understanding the multilevel and multidirectional reconstructions that occur with personality, cognitive sphere, behavior, social activity and adaptation of aging people. To objectify a number of cross-cultural and historical differences in attitudes to age and ageing allows an appeal to proverbs, myths, literary works, religion, humanities and natural sciences concepts of different countries and peoples. The article commented on various images of old age in Russian and Chinese proverbs, dedicated to the old statements of Confucius, the ideas of Buddhism and Daosism, views on the old age of Platon, Aristotel, Marcus Tullius Cicero, Lucius Anney Seneca, writers and poets of the middle Ages and the Renaissance (Dante, Hans Sachs, Erasmus, Francois Villon, etc.). The author discusses the reasons for the emphasis on the pessimistic aspects of old age in Russian folk proverbs and disparity in the inclusion of old age and ageing in the context of " humorous " culture in Russia and in Europe. Special attention is paid to the reflection of aging in Russian literature of the 19th century (in works of A.S.Pushkin, N.V.Gogol, I.S.Turgenev, F.I.Tutchev). The author emphasizes that today, unfortunately, for many elderly and old people are characterized by lack of development of reflection about their own life and personality; concern rather the material well-being and physical health than cognitive development; the conviction that the deterioration of memory and decline in other mental functions, is an obligate symptom of normal aging. The author makes conclusion about necessity of purposeful formation of psychological culture of aging in contemporary society and positive images of old age as an important late stage of ontogenesis.