Abstract
Specially tailored SCT for the aged was administered to the sixty male and sixty seven female aged subjects. Each group consisted of the younger subgroup (age 65-74) and the older one. Most of them belonged to the socially middle class, all were healthy, both mentally and physically.
Responses were classified into six categories.
Findiegs 1. The younger male aged was characterized by a more positive attitude toward self and others than their female counterpart. In contrast, the female subjects of the same age range were characterized by their self-centered as well as narrow-ranged interest revealed in the images of their past and much younger days. 2. The later period of the female aged was characterized by a less positive image of their present self and a more neutral attitude toward others than the male subjects. 3. The change of self percepts by aging was found to be a more complicated process than the hitherto considered process.(1) The change by aging common to both sexes was found to be a disengagement tendency which was shown in the decline of positive responses as to their self images in regard with their child aging and future days.(2) Sexual difference of change by aging was as follows: Among the female subjects decrease of positive responses regarding family image, interpersonal relationship and the image of their present self were prominent whereas among the male subjects no such change were discovered.
Conclusion Marked sexual difference was found between male and female as well as psychological change by aging. Though female subjects tended to show “discontinuing and qualitative change” by aging, this change varied from a family-centered, family-dependent stage to self-centered, inner world oriented stage. The male aged showed, on one hand, change toward disengagement which is, to some degree, common to female subjects too, but, on the other hand, though parallel with this common decline, an engaging attitude continue to play a much more active role among them. In short, the male aged tended to follow a more continuous psychological process than their female counterpart.
