Biological, Social-Environmental, and Psychological Dialecticism: An Integrated Model of Aging

Abstract

Noting social-environmental and psychological factors as moderators of biological systems, a dialecticism involving these forces is proposed to account for physical changes and declines throughout adulthood. A sampling of research indicating psychosocial and social-cognitive constructs, lifestyle, and contextual elements to influence rates of morbidity and mortality is presented, and how these factors may advance the aging clock is discussed. A contextually grounded model of older adults' health behavior decision making is also introduced, and several areas where social psychologists may become active in research that illuminates processes of successful aging are described.