ACTIVITY THEORY Definition Activity theory is an umbrella

ACTIVITY THEORY

Definition �“Activity theory is an umbrella term for a line of eclectic social sciences theories and research with its roots in the Soviet psychological activity theory pioneered by Alexei Leont'ev and Sergei Rubinstein. These scholars sought to understand human activities as complex, socially-situated phenomena and to go beyond paradigms of reflexology (the teaching of Vladimir Bekhterev and his followers) and physiology of higher nervous activity (the teaching of Ivan Pavlov and his school), psychoanalysis, and behaviorism. ” ( Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia)

�According to ethnographer Bonnie Nardi, a leading theorist in AT, activity theory "focuses on practice, which obviates the need to distinguish 'applied' from 'pure' science—understanding everyday practice in the real world is the very objective of scientific practice. … The object of activity theory is to understand the unity of consciousness and activity. ”

�It is a theory that describes the psychosocial aging process. �Activity theory emphasizes the importance of ongoing social activity. This theory suggests that a person's self-concept is related to the roles held by that person , that is, retiring may not be so harmful if the person actively maintains other roles, such as familial roles, recreational roles, volunteer & community roles.

�To maintain a positive sense of self the person must substitute new roles for those that are lost because of age. And studies show that the type of activity does matter, just as it does with younger people.

The Activity Theory makes the following certain assumptions: ü There is an abrupt beginning of old age. ü The process of aging leaves people alone & cut-off. ü People should be encouraged to remain active & develop own-age friends. ü Standards & expectations of middle age should be projected to older age. ü Aging persons should be encouraged to expand & be involved.

�Activity theory holds that people construct ideas about themselves from two major sources: the things that they do and the roles that they fill in life. According to activity theory people give up many roles as they age-they retire from work, become widows or widowers, drop out of professional and other organizations, leave clubs and unions, and so on.

� These changes challenge the ideas that people hold about themselves; they may create a reduced sense of identity; and they sap the strength of one's inner "self. " For this reason people need to, and most actually do, engage in activities that develop substitute roles for those that have been abandoned. Hence, activities in late life are essential to restore one's "self" and boost one's sense of well-being.

“I truly believe that age -- if you're healthy -- age is just a number. ” HUGH HEFNER, interview, Apr. 8, 2006