Young at Heart Psych Paper PDF

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Paper on the film Young at Heart ...

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Sabeen Khan 71830099 Psych 111: Buvinger

The Young @ Heart choir is a chorus based in North Hampton Massachusetts that serves as a creative outlet for the elderly (George 2007). This program also fosters a host of healthy aging techniques. Healthy aging techniques can include companionship, physical,intellectual stimulation, vitamin intake, volunteering and work (Altman et al., 2017). These activities generally promote healthy physical and social behaviors. Lenny and Joe both practice healthy aging techniques in their lives. Lenny is able to participate and volunteer in different groups. He is very occupied and when asked about his schedule has something different to do each day. He participates in not only the Young @ Heart choir, but a harmonica group and church choir. These groups allow him to stay intellectually entertained and also force him to move and dance. It also allows him to become involved in different communities. Joe on the other hand uses companionship as a healthy aging technique. He commutes to rehearsal with Lenny and Eileen every week, through which he has made a very close friendship. Joe is seen as a “phenomenon in the chorus” and even admits that “singing does a lot for [his] body” (George 2007). More importantly, he enjoys rehearsal and spending time with his group members. Whilst there he is able to memorize the lyrics to songs within a day, suggesting that this companionship and support from his choir keep him sharp. Additionally, control is an extremely important aspect of adult life that can potentially shape one’s day to day interactions. In the study performed by Langer and Rodin, the concept of control in relation to mood and physical well being is explored. Eileen and Fred are two individuals from the movie who have both similarities and differences in their levels of control. Eileen lives in a a group home and commutes to rehearsal. Throughout the film she is seen in her

own living area and bedroom suggesting that she is more independent than others. She is also healthy and not suffering from any sickness thus, she requires less medical and professional attention. Additionally, she is the only one at the home who has her own key since she returns late from rehearsal. Eileen is very flirty, light and happy throughout the film. She often flirts with the camera men and makes remarks about drinking and is generally very forward. Langer and Rodin would suggest that due to Eileen’s ability to have more control in her life she is a more positive and light hearted person. Langer and Rodin would say that Eileen's control of when she leaves the home and returns is a major factor as to why she appears both physically and mentally healthy. Fred on the other hand lives at home with his wife. After a heart attack he was forced to stop singing with the chorus and has trouble moving about. He requires more medical attention and does not always have a say in where he can go and what he can do. In certain instances Fred appears sadder than Eileen in that he rarely smiles and does not always make eye contact. On the other hand, he has a very light and funny personality and would crack many jokes throughout the film. He also has a happy marriage with his wife. These findings to some extent support the Langer and Rodin study. Langer and Rodin would explain that while Fred may be happy, due to the the lack of control in his life due to medical issues he is just not as happy as Eileen. However, Fred reject’s the Langer and Rodin study in some manner in that he does have a very funny personality and is making jokes throughout the film. While the Langer and Rodin study also suggested that lack of control can be associated with higher death rates or life longevity that cannot be applied in this case since Fred’s lack of control is a result of a medical condition and Eileen’s control factor is not bound by a pre-existing medical condition. The SOC model as proposed by Freund and Baltes is one of the most successful models

of aging. According to the SOC model, successful aging encompasses selection on which to focus one’s resources, optimizing developmental potential and compensating for losses. The purpose of the model is to ensure the maximization of function and minimize any losses (Altman et al., 2017). When selecting something to optimize one must think of it as the goal the subject hopes to achieve out of this process. In optimization, the subject must focus on what exactly they will optimize through practice, and in compensation the subject decides what to give up. In a similar manner, Fred uses this model. He recognizes that he is not able to move very much due his congestive heart failure and when with his choir he must stay seated. He can not participate in all of the songs which require standing and movement. He wants to perform with the choir and would rather stay seated and sing than not sing at all. He chooses to optimize his voice, rather than his motor skills. During practices he is always seated both during solos and in group numbers. He compensates by sitting down and not moving much and thus is able to project his voice more. Bob Salvini is also a member of the choir who had to use the SOC model in order to continue singing. After diagnosed with spinal meningitis and having one too many close calls, Bob cannot sing with the choir. When invited back for this particular concert, he struggles when trying to hit certain notes and keep a rhythm. His goal is to perform the coldplay song “Fix You” so he selects this aspect of his performance to focus on. In the movie, when trying to sing the lyrics to “Fix You” he cannot hit the higher notes and when he tries to he cannot get the rhythm. Through practice Bob focuses more on keeping the rhythm than hitting specific notes, especially when signing the line, “stuck in reverse”. He is able to compensate rhythm for pitch as Bob would rather sing the song on beat and rhythmically correct, rather than not singing it at all. Erik Erikson proposed a theory that tracks the development of personality across the lifespan. In this theory, he proposed eight stages of development, beginning in infancy and

ending in late adulthood, during which individuals will be faced with and must either fail to or succeed in mastering specific developmental challenges. Individuals who are able to overcome the challenges of a particular stage will move forward to the next developmental milestone (Altman et al., 2017) . Those who fail may experience issues associated with that domain across their lifespan. The individuals in the film are in Stage eight, or the “Ego Integrity vs Despair” stage. In this stage, the elderly need a sense of fulfillment and want to understand if they have lived a successful life. They develop feelings of contentment and integrity if they believe that they have led a happy, productive life. On the other hand, if they lack a sense of fulfillment, they may instead develop a sense of despair if they look back on a life of disappointments and unachieved goals. Steve Martin, seems to be thriving during this stage of his life. As an ExMarine he is joyful and happy. The filmmakers describe his as “optimistic with a zest for life”(George 2007). He drives a convertible, is in a happy relationship with his girlfriend and ultimately looks back on his life with a positive outlook. Steve seems, to have succeeded in this stage and does not look back on his life with any regrets. In fact, his lack of regret for his past makes him a positive person. Joe is another member of the choir who has fulfilled stage 8 of Erikson’s model. Throughout the film he is extremely happy and joyful. He seems to have a positive regard on life. During the film, when he was taken to the hospital due to a low white blood cell count, when asked about his worry for the cancer returning he said that he had actually forgotten about it and was not worried because he was, “happy to be up and around and doing some singing” (George 2007). In this scene, Joe shows his development of feelings and commitment to the choir because he has a sense of fulfillment in his life. He continues to say that his life now is all about singing and his family. His ability to reflect on his life in this moment where he is very sick and pick out important factors shows that he has led a fulfilled and

purposeful life.

Works Cited Altman, A. A. (2017). Introduction to Psychology: A Top Hat Interactive Text. Top Hat Monocle.

Sally George, P. P. (Producer), & Stephen Walker, D. D. (Director). (2007). Young @ Heart [Motion picture]. Beverly Hills, CA: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment....