Getting older: Many people look up to it like a mountain. In fact, we hardly accept that we are already old ourselves. People feel younger than they actually are, professor of Psychology Liesbeth Woertman explains.
“If old were linked to wisdom and life experience, we would look at it very differently,” says Liesbeth Woertman, emeritus professor of psychology at Utrecht University. Woertman wrote the book Who am I if no one looks? , about the role of beauty and identity in the lives of women over forty. According to her life we consider young and autonomous as ideals.
“Many people have a picture of getting ugly, getting wrinkles and not counting anymore,” emphasizes Wies Verbeek, journalist and author of the book a bit of nice aging . According to her, that is not surprising: in the media and commercial world, aging has long been set negatively.
For example, commercials in which the elderly occur seem to focus primarily on the more problematic side of old age. Think of needing help and care and promoting creams against wrinkles. Women also come into the picture less as they get older, according to the Monitor Representation of the NPO. A worldwide measurement shows that everyone over fifty years on television is only 17 percent women.
Ellen Heuven, trainer and researcher to become positive, thinks those images negatively influence us. “They tell us that aging is a downward trend and that our happiness in life depends on youthful beauty.”
According to Heuven, the opposite is true. “The Paradox is that we think we are becoming more unhappy, while in practice we are getting happier. That has to do with, among other things, that for our well -being we become less dependent on the opinions of others and grow in self -love.”
‘If you are thirty, then fifty is very old’
The reluctance against aging not only has to do with appearance, Verbeek thinks. Experiences from the past also play a role. In addition, the feeling of what ‘old’ is always on.
“If you are thirty, fifty is very old. That is because you compare yourself all the time with those with whom you deal with. They run into the same situations and experience the same complaints,” says the author.
“In addition, every phase of life has its own challenges and expectations. At the age of 30 you may be busy with your career, your relationship and buying a house. While you are dealing with very different challenges at the age of 50.”
Our self -image is behind the facts
We see and experience ourselves as younger than we are, Woertman sees. “Because our self -image always runs after the facts. For example, you see that in people who have lost a lot of weight in a short time; they walk as if they are a bit more robust.”
That automated behavior can also ensure that we unconsciously look negatively at old age. We are not aware that we often assume stereotypical images that we have stored in our head.
That emphasizes Josanne Huijg, researcher getting meaningfully aging on the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Aging. “Our unconscious images of aging often remain negative all our lives.” But according to Huijg there is also positive news: “Your conscious images become, as you get older, more and more positive.”
Getting Older: Many people dread it. In fact, we hardly accept that we obselves are already old. People Feel Younger than they actual Are, Explains Psychology Professor Liesbeth Woertman.
“If Being old were linked to wisdom and life experience, we would look at it very differently,” Says Liesbeth Woertman, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Utrecht University. Woertman wrote the book who am I when no one is watching? , about the role of beauty and identity in the lives of women about Forty. Accordance to her, we live in a time when we pretend to be young and autonomous as ideals.
“Many People Associate Aging with Becoming Ugly, Getting Wrinkles, and No Longer Matting,” Emphasizes Wies Verbeek, Journalist and Author of the Book a bit of fun aging (Getting a Little Nicely Older). Accordance to her, this is not surprising: in the media and the commercial world, aging has long leg portrayed negatively.
For Example, Commercials Featuring Older People Seem to Focus Mainly On The More Problematic Side of Old Age. Think of Needing Help and Care and Promotion Creams Against Wrinkles. Women also appear less in the picture as they get older, accordance to the npo’s representation monitor. A Global Measurement shows that of Everyone about fifty on television, only 17 percent are women.
Ellen Heuven, trainer and researcher Into Positive Aging, Thinks That Thesis Images Negatively Influence US. “They tell us that aging is a downward line and that our happiness in Life Depends on Youthful Beauty.”
Accordance to Heuven, The Opposite is True. “The Paradox is that we think we Become unhappier, while in practice we actual Become Happier. This is partly because well-beeing becomes less dpendent on the opinions of Others and we grow in Self-Love.”
‘If You’re Thirty, Fifty is very old’
The Aversion to Aging is not only related to Appearance, Verbeek Thinks. Experiences from the past also play a role. In Addition, The Feeling of What ‘Old’ is Constantly Shifting.
“If you’re thirty, fifty is very old. This is because you are constantly compiring yourelf to those yourself to are with. They are facing the same situations and experienced the same complaints,” Says the Author.
“In Addition, Every Phase of Life Has Its Own Challenges, Responsibilities, And Expectations. At Thirty, You May Be Busy With Your Career, Your Relationship, And Buying A House. While at Fifty, You have very Diffent Challenges.”
Our Self-Image Lags Behind the Facts
We see and experience Ourselves as Younger Than We are, Woertman Sees. “Because our self-image always Behind the facts. You can see that, for example, in people who have lost a lot of weight in a short time; they walk as if they are still a bit heavyer.”
That automated behavior can also caus us to unconsciously look negatively at old age. We are not aware that we or rely on stereotypical images that we have stored in our heads.
This is underlined by Josanne Huijg, researcher Into Meaningful Aging at the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Aging. “Our Unconscious Images Of Aging Often Remain Negative Throughhout Our Lives.” But accordance to huijg, there is also positive news: “Your conscious images beeMe more and more positive as you get oldder.”