Important Decisions Before Retirement
Problems in retirement range widely: from boredom to bucking tudes against age; from loss of relatives through death to the speaking up of friendship cliques; and from loss of independence to deterioration in influence credit.
Self-Concept
Several factors influence self concept in old age: (1) the history of .·s habit structures; (2) acceptance or relection of the cultural stereotype or aging; (3) feelings or success or failure in life; (4) the cultural climate in which one is spending most of his or her time. This cultural climate includes living arrangements, club affiliations, and the amount of independence one has in decision-making processes about his or her way of living, Finally, self concept is influenced by the criteria used for getting old. Some may use chronological age. Others evaluate, themselves in terms of failing eyesight or hearing or a tendency to fatigue easily, and still others use sexual potency as the indicator of their point of no return. For some getting old is indicated by an increase in the poverty of loneliness.
Studies show that subjective age is closely related to morale, rigidity, and fantasy behavior. It is also related to treatment by others and to the ability to get around. Among institutionalized people negative attitudes seem to be the result of institutionalization rather than of age per se.
Personality Differences
One man in his seventies described retirement in these words:
I began planning for retirement when I was nearing sixty. M. wife was involved in each decision made about it. Preparation involved three main problems-financial, physical, and mental The most frequent question asked me after I retired was, "What do you do to keep busy?" Well, I never find the time to do all the thin!;s I want to. If you are married you find you are not retired You have gone on a "Honeydew vacation"-"Honey do this honey do th at."
A woman gave the following description:
My husband retired at sixty-two when his company mergerd. For the first few months it was wonderful, just like we were on anextended vacation. But then things became different for him He gets tired of watching television and he can work around the house just so much. Although successful in the business world he has not succeeded in adjusting to retirement. As for me, a woman never retires anyway.
From many descriptions and studies of retirement one genrra: ization stands out: People react to retirement according to indivl patterns that may be more marked in maturity than thoy a childhood, adolescence, youth, and middle age. Some retire an it, some tolerate it, and some fight it. Aging may come gracefully or may come in anger,
In a statistically analyzed study of male aging and personality the University of California, five clusters of persons were found.
Among the well-adjusted were the "mature" men who understood the de\'elopmental processes reasonably well. They accepted themselves realistically and grew old without regret for the past. These men were relatively free from neurotic conflict, and they had little difficulty in pending their time in psychologically satisfying ways.
Next in order came the "rocking-chair type." These men welcomed freedom from responsibility. In some ways retirement gave ,hem what they had wanted for a long time. Old age provided the opportur.;ty ,0 indulge in their Passive needs. As one observer put it, "'The rocking chair is a great institution. It is a way of sitting still and moving at the same time."
In the middle of the fivefold classification from well-adjusted to nonadjusted came the "armored" men. These individuals maintained a well-functioning system of defenses against anxiety by keeping busy. Always doing something keeps down worry and anxiety. No doubt this type of reaction it! oLder persons is related to successes they had earlier in life.
Among the poorly adjusted came the fourth type, the "angry" men. These people were bitter over failures to achieve their life goals. They blamed other people for their disappointments, or they attributed defeat to the organizational climate.
Finally, the study factored out the "self-haters." These were the people who turned their resentments Inward. They blamed themselves for their misfortunes. This unhappy group of retired people were qepressed rather than angry.
Changing Role Patterns
Many persons "practice" for retirement by giving up work and starting again, and by trying out various life-style arrangements. Some people go for full disengagement from work while others prefer a more gradual approach. Some people find that taking a long trip right after formal retirement is one way of e::lsing out of old routines. Breaks in life-styles can give one new directions. Studies show that even women who have never worked outside of the home find part-time jobs in retail stores or similar places a satisfactory way to "make the break."
As they approach old age, most people restrict their social roles, reducing the number and variety of their contacts. Old friends are ost; new friends do not quite take their place. Said one successful eventy-year-old retiree: "I soon found that I had to come in balance with the new roles I had.to play, based mainly on a very low level of involvement." From many writings about the problems of retirement one central thought emerges: Formal disengagement' from work means abandoning life's central roles; this results in a reduced social life. For those with a past history of being able to adjust well, there is little or no crisis or loss of morale, following retirement. Role change in retirefllent relates to one's own personality, life experience, habits, health, and energy status. There is, after all an art of retirement.
