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Geriatric Rigidity and Its Psychotherapeutic Implications
Author(s) -
Brink T. L.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1978.tb02402.x
Subject(s) - rigidity (electromagnetism) , personality , coping (psychology) , medicine , pessimism , anxiety , psychotherapist , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , philosophy , structural engineering , epistemology , engineering
The elderly tend to be more rigid than younger adults in their attitudes and personalities, and such rigidity is correlated with poor adjustment. However, the rigidity is not the cause of the poor adjustment; rather, it is an attempted solution. One of the patterns of rigidity is an outgrowth of the lifestyle of pessimism, suspicion, self‐reliance, self‐discipline, determination, and endurance. Two case studies are presented illustrating how rigidity can channel thoughts and prevent the brooding which works itself into depression or anxiety, while simultaneously reinforcing self‐help behavior. Geriatric psychotherapy should be problem‐centered and should not launch a frontal assault on rigidity or attempt to reconstruct the patient's personality. Behavioral modification, authority, and motivation slogans can be used in conjunction with the rigidity to improve the patient's coping ability.