Examination of Aging - Japanese and American Societies - Assignment Example

According to a 2011 study by Karasawa and colleagues, elders in Japanese society experience a higher quality of personal growth than their American counterparts and midlife members of their own culture. This difference may be attributed to traditional Japanese belief systems (Taoism, Buddhism, Confucian) and their emphasis on aging as a natural maturing process rather than something to be feared. In contrast, American views toward aging tend to place it in a negative light in comparison to the emphasis on social contribution through employment that is often associated with the "American Dream".

 The same article identifies a commonality in the experiences of American and Japanese elders. In both cultures, old-age participants reported a lower sense of purpose in life than the younger population. Suggestions offered for this finding include the "lag theory" which posits the failure of social institutions (schools, hospitals, etc.) to adequately prepare for the increased life spans and numbers of aged members in their societies. An additional possibility is that maintaining a strong sense of purpose in life is a difficult challenge for elders across multiple cultural settings, or perhaps just those that are more technologically advanced. Further research would be required to clarify these relationships.