READINESS FOR AGE CHANGES AS A FACTOR OF CONSTRUCTING SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AT AN OLD AGE

The paper presents the results of empirical study where the relationship between readiness to develop age-temporal changes and social representations about psychological wellbeing of aged people (N-120: 47 male, 73 female; mean age 24) is revealed. The research proves that the respondents have a poor understanding of the future psychological changes and are more concerned about the loss of visual appeal and social activity. They attribute responsibility for psychological wellbeing at an old age to personal characteristics of elderly people. Respondents usually depict rather idealized, unrealistic images in their drawings.