The Many Faces of Dependency in Old Age

Margret Baltes provides insights into the social foundation of dependency with a blend of theoretical and empirical argument.

Margret Baltes, a major researcher in gerontology, challenges the deterministic view that dependence is a natural consequence of aging. In this important volume, she presents her theory of learned dependency based upon 20 years of research, which holds that dependency plays an important role in successful aging and is a resourceful adaptation to aging losses.The Many Faces of Dependency in Old Age, first published in 1997, provides insights into the social foundation of dependency. Its theoretical foundation and its broad empirical base distinguish it from others in its field. This book attempts to correct the bias towards the virtues of independence over the vicissitudes of dependence, a predominantly North American view. It stresses that dependencies are not always dysfunctional, representing only loss. Baltes also incorporates European, Japanese and feminist ideas about juxtaposing individuality and connectedness in the mature adult.