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

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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