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Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.

5 min

Who Proposed the Disengagement Theory?

In 1961, sociologists Elaine Cumming and William E. Henry first proposed the disengagement theory. This theory, outlined in their influential book *Growing Old: The Process of Disengagement*, suggests that aging involves a natural and mutual withdrawal between an aging individual and society. It was one of the earliest formal theories of aging developed by social scientists and has since sparked considerable debate.

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5 min

Which theory explains aging as a process of disengagement?

In 1961, sociologists Elaine Cumming and William Henry proposed that aging involves a mutual withdrawal of the individual and society from one another. This concept forms the foundation of Disengagement Theory, which suggests that this process is a natural and acceptable part of the aging experience.

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5 min

What is the disengagement theory of William Henry? A Look into an Influential Concept of Aging

Proposed in 1960 by Elaine Cumming and William E. Henry, the disengagement theory was the first formal social science theory of aging. It posits that as people age, it is natural and beneficial for both the individual and society to experience a mutual withdrawal from social roles and responsibilities. This influential yet controversial idea has profoundly shaped the field of gerontology and sparked debates about the nature of a successful aging process.

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4 min

Who came up with the disengagement theory of aging?

First proposed in 1961, the disengagement theory of aging was one of the earliest formal theories developed by social scientists in the field of gerontology. This perspective introduced the controversial idea that a mutual withdrawal between individuals and society is a natural and healthy part of growing older.

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