A Biocultural Model of Aging (original) (raw)

In this paper I will address how the life sciences have concentrated on the pathology of aging while ignoring the biocultural aspects of health in the process of growing older. I argue that growing older is a dynamic cognitive, biological and cultural coauthoring of health rather than a hopeless unfolding of progressive pathology. I propose that this fragmented concept of aging precludes operationalizing and understanding the cultural markers that affect longevity. These cultural milestones, or biocultural portals include middle age markers, retirement markers, perceived wisdom, sexuality, status in the community, transcendental beliefs, sense of empowerment vs. helplessness and any other biocultural phase in human development. I suggest that the biocultural portals define and trigger the phase transitions of life as well as influence how they are accommodated. For example, the markers for middle age established by a culture, strongly influence the cognitive and biological expectations for the second half of life.