# Continuity theory > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Continuity_theory > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Continuity_theory.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuity_theory > Source revision: 1328061788 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the anthropological theory, see [Multiregional origin of modern humans](/source/Multiregional_origin_of_modern_humans). For nationalist continuity theories, see [Indigenism](/source/Indigenism). The **continuity theory** of normal [aging](/source/Aging_(life_cycle)) states that older adults will usually maintain the same activities, [behaviors](/source/Behavior), [relationships](/source/Social_relationship) as they did in their earlier years of life.[1] According to this [theory](/source/Theory), older adults try to maintain this continuity of lifestyle by adapting strategies that are connected to their past experiences.[2] The continuity theory is one of three major psychosocial theories which describe how people develop in old age.[3] The other two psychosocial theories are the [disengagement theory](/source/Disengagement_theory), with which the continuity theory comes to odds, and the [activity theory](/source/Activity_theory_(aging)) upon which the continuity theory modifies and elaborates. Unlike the other two theories, the continuity theory uses a [life course perspective](/source/Life_course_approach) to define normal aging. The continuity theory can be classified as a micro-level theory because it pertains to the individual, and more specifically it can be viewed from the [functionalist perspective](/source/Structural_functionalism) ## History The continuity theory originated in the observation that a large proportion of older adults show consistency in their activities, personalities, and relationships despite their changing physical, mental, and [social status](/source/Social_status).[4] In 1968, George L. Maddox gave an [empirical](/source/Empiricism) description of the theory in a chapter of the book *Middle Age and Aging: A Reader in Social Psychology* called "Persistence of life style among the elderly: A [longitudinal study](/source/Longitudinal_study) of patterns of social activity in relation to [life satisfaction](/source/Life_satisfaction)". The continuity theory was formerly proposed in 1971 by Robert Atchley in his article "Retirement and Leisure Participation: Continuity or Crisis?" in the journal *The Gerontologist*.[5] Later, in 1989, he published another article entitled "A Continuity Theory of Normal Aging", in *The Gerontologist* in which he substantially developed the theory. In this article, he expanded the continuity theory to explain the development of internal and external structures of continuity. In 1999, Robert Atchley continued to strengthen his theory in his book *Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences*.[4] ## Elements The theory deals with the internal structure and the external structure of continuity to describe how people adapt to their situation and set their goals. The internal structure of an individual such as [personality](/source/Personality_psychology), [ideas](/source/Idea), and [beliefs](/source/Belief) remain constant throughout the life course. This provides the individual a way to make future decisions based on their internal foundation of the past. The external structure of an individual such as [relationships](/source/Interpersonal_relationship) and [social roles](/source/Role) provides a support for maintaining a stable [self-concept](/source/Self-concept) and lifestyle. ## Criticisms and weaknesses The major criticism for the theory is its definition of normal aging.[6] The theory distinguishes normal aging from pathological aging, neglecting the older adults with chronic illness. The [feminist theories](/source/Feminist_theory) criticise the continuity theory for defining normal aging around a male model.[6] Another weakness of the theory is that it fails to demonstrate how social institutions impact the individuals and the way they age.[citation needed] ## See also - [Aging](/source/Aging_(life_cycle)) - [Activity theory (aging)](/source/Activity_theory_(aging)) - [Disengagement theory](/source/Disengagement_theory) ## References 1. American Society on Aging. ["Continuity theory: How elders find wisdom in spite of it all"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080111085251/http://www.asaging.org/at/at-214/continuity.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.asaging.org/at/at-214/continuity.html) on 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2007-12-16. 1. Atchley R. C. (1989). "A continuity theory of normal aging". *The Gerontologist*. **29** (2): 183–190. [doi:10.1093/geront/29.2.183](https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/29.2.183). [PMID 2519525](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2519525) 1. Priscilla Ebersole (8 April 2005). [*Gerontological nursing and healthy aging*](https://books.google.com/books?id=YUlB72lFtIIC&pg=PA108). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-323-03165-3. Retrieved 4 June 2011. 1. Richard Schulz; Linda S. Noelker; Kenneth Rockwood; Richard L. Sprott (eds.) (2006). "Continuity Theory". *Encyclopedia of Aging*. Vol. 1. 4th ed. Springer Publishing Company. pp. 266–268. ISBN 0-8261-4843-3. 1. Achenbaum, W. Andrew & Daniel M. Albert (1995). *Profiles in Gerontology: A Biographical Dictionary*. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-29274-4. 1. Quadagno, Jill (2007). *Aging and The Life Course: An Introduction to Social Gerontology*. 4th ed. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages. ISBN 978-0-07-352816-8. ## Further reading - Atchley R. C. (1971). "Retirement and leisure participation: Continuity or crisis?". *The Gerontologist*. **11** (1): 13–17. [doi:10.1093/geront/11.1_part_1.13](https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/11.1_part_1.13). [PMID 5579223](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5579223) - Atchley R. C. (1989). "A continuity theory of normal aging". *The Gerontologist*. **29** (2): 183–190. [doi:10.1093/geront/29.2.183](https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/29.2.183). [PMID 2519525](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2519525) - Atchley, Robert C. (1999). *Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences*. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-6632-4. - Maddox, G. L. (1968). ["Persistence of life style among the elderly: A longitudinal study of patterns of social activity in relation to life satisfaction"](https://archive.org/details/middleageagingre00neug). *Middle Age and Aging: A Reader in Social Psychology*. B. L. Neugarten (ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. [181–183](https://archive.org/details/middleageagingre00neug/page/181). ISBN 0-226-57382-6. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Continuity theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuity_theory) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuity_theory?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.