A Glimpse into the Minds of the Aged in terms of Guilt and Other Related Factors

The Social Development Forum of CSD, New Delhi invites you to a presentation on ‘A Glimpse into the Minds of the Aged in terms of Guilt and Other Related Factors’

Schedule of the Programme

Speaker: Dr Meenakshi Saxena

Associate Professor (Retired), Department of Psychology,

Indraprastha College for Women

ICSSR Senior Fellow, Council for Social Development, New Delhi

Chair: Prof Manoranjan Mohanty

Distinguished Professor, CSD

Date: May 16, 2019 (Thursday)

Time: 3.30-4.30 PM

Venue: Durgabai Deshmukh Memorial Lecture Hall, CSD,
Sangha Rachna, 53 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003

Abstract of the Talk

Several studies have been reported describing the condition of the elderly in India and abroad. The major focus has been on the demographic picture, longevity, nutrition, disease and disabilities, physical and mental problems, elderly abuse, institutionalization, care-taker problems, and inter-generational conflicts. However, studies on the psycho-social aspects of the life of the elderly are scarce.

Investigations on the aged are highly relevant not only due to their ever increasing population, but also due to the great distress and unrest currently felt by them. In the present investigation, an attempt is made to have an insight into the mind of the elderly regarding their varied experiences of life. Such experiences are analysed with the help of qualitative data. They are also understood in terms of some quantitative measures, such as; personality, guilt and shame proneness, current affective states, and their locus of control.

Analysis of Quantitative data indicated that the male participants scored Average on the personality traits of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. They scored Low on Openness trait of personality. Females scored Low on Openness, as well as, Agreeableness. Males were significantly higher on Neuroticism compared to women. Both males and females had high Guilt and Shame Proneness, but they were not so high on the dimension of Shame Withdraw behaviour. The participants had General Positive Affective State and Self Assurance. Externality was their main locus of control. Males scored significantly higher on the Internality dimension of the locus of control compared to females. A rich array of intra (within dimensions of the same psychological test) and inter (between dimensions of different psychological tests) correlations were obtained.

Thematic Analysis of Qualitative data indicated multiple activities in which the aged engaged, cultural orientation, a transitional phase from religiosity to spirituality, pleasures and pride related to achievements of self and the family, moments of grief and disasters primarily related to the loss of a significant person in their life, and a clique of supposedly bad decisions, guilt, and regrets which they were extremely inhibited about sharing. However, it came out through several other questions related to their hopes for the future and the advice rendered to the younger generation.

Brief Introduction of the Presenter

Dr. Meenakshi Saxena has authored two books, Children: Voyage into Problem Space, and Kiran Bedi: The Kindly Baton, and co-authored the book ‘Demystifying Spirituality in Youth’. Apart from contributing several chapters in edited books, she has a number of published papers in reputed journals. She is guiding a number of students for their doctoral thesis and currently engaged in interdisciplinary studies in the fields of Spirituality, Geriatric Psychology, interventions aimed at Prison Reforms, and Delinquency.