Report: Sociological Perspective on Elderly and Conflict Theory

This report provides a sociological perspective on the contemporary issues faced by the elderly, primarily focusing on the application of conflict theory. It begins with an introduction to sociological perspectives and their impact on social groups, particularly the elderly, who often experience discrimination and prejudice. The report then delves into conflict theory, explaining how it describes the discrimination and ignorance faced by aging individuals, including issues related to earning capacity, medical expenses, and social inequalities. The report explores the strengths of conflict theory in understanding social changes and the weaknesses, particularly its potential to oversimplify the complexities of family dynamics and societal attitudes. The analysis includes discussions on the elderly's social interactions, the impact of ageism, and the ways in which elderly people adapt to changes in their lives. The report also references various academic sources to support its arguments and findings.

Sociological Perspective

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BOODY...............................................................................................................................3
Step 1: Sociological perspective of elderly.................................................................................3
Step 2: Conflict Sociological theory............................................................................................3
Step 3: Strength of contemporary issues of elderly..............................................................4
Step4: Weakness of conflict theory.............................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Sociological perspective is the general study of the individual’s behaviour belonging to a
social group (Baisch and et.al, 2017). Analysis of sociological perspective on contemporary
issues on elderly is done in this report. With that analysis of strength and weaknesses of
sociological theories is done in this theory with that development of project plan is done in this
report.
MAIN BOODY
Step 1: Sociological perspective of elderly
Sociology is the study of human behaviour and sociological perspective is the basic insight of
social groups which makes a direct impact on shaping the perspective of a group by which an
individual’s working is affected. Elderly people of a social group often faces discriminations and
prejudice because of which their social interaction is often affected and conflict theory is one of
the widely used theory for analysing the impact of ageism (Hokowhitu and et.al, 2020). The
working capability of people is reduced with the changes in time and because of which they
often face the problems like prejudgement due to which their engagement with the society is
reduced. However elderly people often face ignorance because of their reduced physical
activities by which their earning and task performing capability is also reduced and thus conflict
theory falls into further general conflicts theory of society. However, in order to improve their
activities many people tend to perform some activities by which they tend to maintain their
physical capabilities and also it maintains their effective relations with the socials groups
because of which they are able to reduce the chances of conflicts.
Step 2: Conflict Sociological theory
The actual explanation of aging or getting old is beautifully described through this theory. This
basically refers to the issues and problematic situations, discrimination and ignorance faced by
the people who are getting old by the time. According to the perspective of young age people,
the reason for the discarding of elder people are that, as they are no longer eligible to earn two
square meals, they are not earning anything and also not capable enough to help in some
household or market chores (Simon, 2016). Another problem is that what bothers people now a
days is, due to their increasing age their medical expenses were also increased and insurance or
other facilities were also expensive in accordance with their age group. This theory also explains
the discrimination among the old people based on their gender, cultural background, social and

financial status. Such inequalities can be witnessed in the different segments of the society where
some elders are in a good shape in terms of financial back up and health but some are extremely
poor without any medical assistance.
According to the basic principles of conflict theory there is a competition between the
young segment of the population with the aged and experienced segment. Over the superiority in
terms of job, financial stability, knowledge etc. There is also a modernisation perspective under
this theory which says that industrial age or the modern age is the reason for this conflict. This
approach explains slowly the old people are losing their position or respect in the society and
facing exclusion because in the preindustrial age people are obligated and families are bound to
look after their parents and elders in the family. Now as the society is getting modern and new
concept of nuclear family is introduced in the society people like to live with their spouse and
kids only people have become self-centred, selfish and individualistic. They take it as a burden to
look after and pay for their extended family. Taking care of them is now become a voluntary task
or obligatory duty which is also not followed by many. As people now don’t have any fear of the
society (Nshom and Croucher, 2018).
The exclusion and involving of senior members of the family is dependent on several
factors. If the person is self sufficient have a good financial background, good property and
reputation in the society, or in a good health condition, then its most likely that their family or
kids will look after them in their thick and thins. But there are people who are poor or not that
financially sound or have some health issues than their family or people will take them as burden
or they will not willing to pay their medical bills as well. According to this theory this model is
practical to both the developed and developing generations, it presents that people are abandoned
by their families because they have become a non-productive or non-earning part of the family.
There is also a conflict of authority as people who are in age have more political and government
power and right over the young generation.
Step 3: Strength of contemporary issues of elderly
Conflict theory explains the social changes which are experienced by individuals at their
workplace and because of which it is highly effective in terms of understand the type of changes
and tend to behave in such a way that minimum amount of negative impact is achieved on the
society. With that this can also be used by the aged people to understand the type of change

which has to be done in their routine life and have to tend to act in such a way that they can
integrate their new daily routine (Lavalley, Womack and Bailliard, 2020). Through this
improvisation in daily routine individuals can improve the ways of doing work by which they
can reduce the chances of accruing conflicts due to ignorance and other activities and also can
develop a good friendly work place by which elderly can maintain their physical activities which
will also maintain and develop a social group which will keep them motivated for putting some
efforts for improving their social perspective.
Step4: Weakness of conflict theory
The drawback of conflict theory is that it directly blames the modernisation or the modern
generation for misbehaving and abandoning their elders (Sánchez-Moguel and et. al., 2018). It
was stated according this model is people now don’t want to be with their extended families and
only look after them if they are in good shape or capable for providing them something weather
its financial or physical help. That’s not the case actually because there are people with both
perspective people who respect and care for their family and people who discard their members
or only keep relations with self-interest involved. It was known that issues and problems with the
aging people were also happened in the preindustrial times. Also, that time people were not
much aware and there were not any kind of strict regulations for that mistreating anyone. But in
the current era there are facilities and government campaigns and strict laws against people who
mistreat or refuse to provide basic necessities to the old people of their families (Jeong and Kim,
2016).
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that sociological perspective of an individual is affected with the
changes in time because of which elderly often faces difficulties because of discriminations and
ignorance. The main reason behind this is that the elderly people becomes less productive and
are economically limited to their saving and thus they often have to face difficulties and thus
conflicts arises.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Baisch, S. and et.al, 2017. Acceptance of social robots by elder people: does psychosocial
functioning matter?. International Journal of Social Robotics. 9(2). pp.293-307.
Hokowhitu, B. and et.al, 2020. Kaumātua Mana Motuhake Pōi: a study protocol for enhancing
wellbeing, social connectedness and cultural identity for Māori elders. BMC
geriatrics. 20(1). pp.1-15.
Jeong, S.I. and Kim, B.K., 2016. A Study on the Solutions of the Elderly Problems in Terms of
Social Issuest. Industry Promotion Research. 1(2). pp.109-119.
Lavalley, R., Womack, J.L. and Bailliard, A., 2020. A live community growing together:
Communal occupation of a senior center welcoming Spanish-speaking elders. Journal of
Occupational Science. pp.1-13.
Nshom, E. and Croucher, S.M., 2018. An exploratory study on the attitudes of elderly Finns
towards Russian-speaking minorities. Journal of International and Intercultural
Communication. 11(4). pp.324-338.
Sánchez-Moguel, S.M and et. al., 2018. Two different populations within the healthy elderly:
lack of conflict detection in those at risk of cognitive decline. Frontiers in Human
Neuroscience. 11. p.658.
Simon, R.M., 2016. The Conflict Paradigm in Sociology and the Study of Social Inequality:
Paradox and Possibility. Theory in Action. 9(1).
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