M2 – Discuss two major theories of ageing in relaton to the development of the
individual
In this assignment, I will be discussing the social disengagement theory and contnuity theory in relaton to the
development of Amy Winehouse.
Social disengagement theory
The social disengagement theory can be applied to the development of Amy Winehouse. She would be very likely to
disengage from social interactons and actvites in her older years due to her psychological and physical issues. Amy was
known to have mental health issues such as bipolar disorder and depression which would have likely carried on
throughout her whole life. Bipolar disorder causes extreme up's and down's in a person's mood. During the highs Amy
may have wanted to socialise and be around people, however, during the lows she would want to withdraw herself from
others. Additonally, a symptom of depression is withdrawal and lack of interest in actvites that an individual used to
enjoy. When depressed, Amy would have felt exhausted when socialising with others and taking part in actvites so she
would avoid it. This can make the depression even worse because as human beings we need social interacton in order
to have good mental health. Furthermore, Amy Winehouse had problems with her physical health which were mainly
caused by drug abuse. She was known for taking drugs such as cocaine, heroin, pills and she also smoked marijuana and
cigaretes. The drugs had an extremely negatve eefect on her body, her weight went down, her blood pressure went up
and her organs were damaged. These issues would have caused Amy to withdraw herself because physical illness can
cause stress which may lead to depression and anxiety. This would have likely happened to Amy Winehouse because she
has struggled with mental health issues in the past, so she would be more prone to go through it again. Furthermore,
high blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the brain to become damaged or weakened which can make them
rupture. It can also cause blood clots which would stop blood fow into the brain. A result of this could be a stroke or
even dementa. Therefore, Amy Winehouse would have most likely had dementa in her older years due to her drug use.
Dementa is a brain disorder which occurs in older people, and causes confusion, communicaton problems and memory
problems. The dementa would cause Amy to withdraw from social situatons and actvites because she would not be
able to communicate eefectvely, and she may have forgoten all her friends and relatves.
Contnuity theory
The contnuity theory can be applied to the development of Amy Winehouse. According to this theory, Amy would
contnue to be the person that she used to be, in her older years. She would do this by having the same interests,
behaviours, opinions, beliefs, preferences, lifestyle and social contacts. Contnuaton would help her feel like life is worth
living and would give her beter self-esteem. During Amy's adulthood her main interest was music, singing and song
writng. This also meant that she had a lifestyle with a lot of social interacton and social contacts, because she was
famous and she knew many people. She could contnue this into her older years by carrying on her passion for music,
she could stll sing and write songs in her free tme. She could even carry on performing in front of an audience like she
used to. Furthermore, she could keep the same circle of friends and relatves and socialise a lot when she is older so that
she would stll feel like her younger self. However, Amy Winehouse had some bad habits which she wouldn't be able to
carry on into her elderly years, such as her drug addictons. lderly individuals become weaker and their body would not
be able put up with drugs. For example, if Amy carried on smoking cigaretes and marijuana she would likely get lung
cancer which would lead to disengagement. Therefore, Amy would not be able to contnue all of her past behaviours
and habits.
individual
In this assignment, I will be discussing the social disengagement theory and contnuity theory in relaton to the
development of Amy Winehouse.
Social disengagement theory
The social disengagement theory can be applied to the development of Amy Winehouse. She would be very likely to
disengage from social interactons and actvites in her older years due to her psychological and physical issues. Amy was
known to have mental health issues such as bipolar disorder and depression which would have likely carried on
throughout her whole life. Bipolar disorder causes extreme up's and down's in a person's mood. During the highs Amy
may have wanted to socialise and be around people, however, during the lows she would want to withdraw herself from
others. Additonally, a symptom of depression is withdrawal and lack of interest in actvites that an individual used to
enjoy. When depressed, Amy would have felt exhausted when socialising with others and taking part in actvites so she
would avoid it. This can make the depression even worse because as human beings we need social interacton in order
to have good mental health. Furthermore, Amy Winehouse had problems with her physical health which were mainly
caused by drug abuse. She was known for taking drugs such as cocaine, heroin, pills and she also smoked marijuana and
cigaretes. The drugs had an extremely negatve eefect on her body, her weight went down, her blood pressure went up
and her organs were damaged. These issues would have caused Amy to withdraw herself because physical illness can
cause stress which may lead to depression and anxiety. This would have likely happened to Amy Winehouse because she
has struggled with mental health issues in the past, so she would be more prone to go through it again. Furthermore,
high blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the brain to become damaged or weakened which can make them
rupture. It can also cause blood clots which would stop blood fow into the brain. A result of this could be a stroke or
even dementa. Therefore, Amy Winehouse would have most likely had dementa in her older years due to her drug use.
Dementa is a brain disorder which occurs in older people, and causes confusion, communicaton problems and memory
problems. The dementa would cause Amy to withdraw from social situatons and actvites because she would not be
able to communicate eefectvely, and she may have forgoten all her friends and relatves.
Contnuity theory
The contnuity theory can be applied to the development of Amy Winehouse. According to this theory, Amy would
contnue to be the person that she used to be, in her older years. She would do this by having the same interests,
behaviours, opinions, beliefs, preferences, lifestyle and social contacts. Contnuaton would help her feel like life is worth
living and would give her beter self-esteem. During Amy's adulthood her main interest was music, singing and song
writng. This also meant that she had a lifestyle with a lot of social interacton and social contacts, because she was
famous and she knew many people. She could contnue this into her older years by carrying on her passion for music,
she could stll sing and write songs in her free tme. She could even carry on performing in front of an audience like she
used to. Furthermore, she could keep the same circle of friends and relatves and socialise a lot when she is older so that
she would stll feel like her younger self. However, Amy Winehouse had some bad habits which she wouldn't be able to
carry on into her elderly years, such as her drug addictons. lderly individuals become weaker and their body would not
be able put up with drugs. For example, if Amy carried on smoking cigaretes and marijuana she would likely get lung
cancer which would lead to disengagement. Therefore, Amy would not be able to contnue all of her past behaviours
and habits.
