Abstract
M.A. (Counselling Psychology)
The process of retirement is perceived by many as the
'end of' rather than the 'beginning of ' an important
part of their life. As Michelan (in Osgood, 1982,
p.29) says,
" the major dilemma facing the retired elderly
is essentially how to substitute a new set of
personal values and new kinds of activities for
the life long job of earning a living, raising a
family, and overcoming the day-to-day obstacles
which effect income, status and career."
One is immediately led to ask whether retirement does
indeed entail unstructured free time, new activities
and role characteristics or whether the aging persons
in question are not being ascribed a preconceived,
stereotyped role in society - distantly removed from
the real experience of this relatively newly created
developmental phase in human life. For example,
Achenbaum (in Graebner, 1980, p.11) feels that in the
pas t, American elderly people were valued for their
insight into the sources of longevity, for their wisdom
in creating a new world order for the United States,
for the moral guidance they could bring to youth, for
their knowledge of farming, and for their performance
of domestic duties. However, these categories of
'usefulness' conceal a peculiar softness - the aged
being valued for little more than their knowledge,
advice and guidance.