Theoretical Perspectives Of Gerontology And Macro-Level Theories

Therefore, neither theory focuses on the whole picture. According to Novak, “if both theories were used together, they show the scope of gerontology” (29).
Both theories have limitations, however these theories also have benefits. The benefit of the micro-level and macro-level theories is that they can both take on interactionist, functionalist, or conflict perspectives. According to Novak, if both the micro-level theory and the macro-level theory are used together, “they can show the scope of gerontological study” (29). I agree with Novak, by using both theories would be beneficial, since both theories focus on different aspects of the elderly. Within the micro-level and macro-level theories are three major theoretical perspectives. The three theoretical perspectives used in gerontology are, interpretive perspective, the functionalist perspective, and the conflict perspective.
The interpretive perspective usually focuses on the social life of the elderly.
This would include things such as, how people relate to one another and how they define situations. Furthermore, another focus of this perspective is how the elderly create a social order in life. There are even several theories within this perspective, social constructionism, social exchange theory, symbolic interactionist, social phenomenology, and ethnomethodology.
There are some advantages to the interpretive perspective. According to Novak, “The interpretive perspective can give a good understanding of how people interpret their social world, how they interact with one another, and why they do what they do” (30). Another advantage to using the interpretive perspective is, it can assist gerontologists to study of how people adapt such as, to retirement, loss of a loved one, and changes in their
health.