Describe the theoretical explanations for elderly abuse and how they are similar or different from general theories of victimization that were presented in Chapter 2

Question

How might routine activities theory be applied to the explanation of elderly abuse and elderly criminal victimization? (Pages 196-198 in text)

Answer 1

Psychoanalysis attributes abuse to some personality/mental disorder in either victim or perpetrator. This explanation purports that the illness causes the abuse. Social learning theory proposes that the abusive behavior is learned through observation and is passed along from generation to generation. Social exchange theory focuses on dependency between caregiver and elderly person who are dependent on each other. All social interactions depend on the exchange of resources such as money, time, love, etc. There is a cost/benefit balance and as long as the abuse does not outweigh the dependency, the elder will remain in the situation. Conflict theory focuses on the distribution of scarce resources (i.e., money, power, and prestige). The powerful take advantage of or exploit the weak. Symbolic interactionism relates to how the actors define the situation in terms of the level of stress and the abuse occurs when the situation is considered too stressful. Role theory purports that abuse results when caregivers lack the skills and knowledge to adequately and appropriately care for the elderly. Abuse can be avoided by role playing. Situational theory focuses on external factors that may lead to abuse, like isolation. Those who are isolated are abused most often. Functionalism results from the stereotypical understanding of what aging involves (ageism). Individuals tend to believe that the elderly are weak, foolish, incompetent, which leads to abuse.

In general the victimization theories (victim precipitation, lifestyle, routine activities, structural choice and legal cynicism) presented in Chapter 2 (pages 31-35 in text) focus on behaviors that individuals engage that put them at greater risk of being victimized. The theories in this chapter are focused on the interaction between the caregiver and the abused, rather than individual victim's behavior or activity. Routine activities theory might be applied in that it is focused on everyday activities that become routine, such as the required daily care of the elderly, or the dependency between the abuser and the victim, or the victimization that occurs because of the stress of the routine activities, etc.