A Study On The Social Representation Of Dignity Of The Elderly

This study takes the cases of the aged senior citizen in the reclamation area of HeiLongjiang X bureau, on the theoretical perspective of social representations explores the dignity from the perspective of social representations. Centering on the structure, content and the acquisition process of the social representations of dignity.Using qualitative semi-structured guide interviews,participant observation method to characterize the representations of dignity of older persons.The study found that the dignity representations of the elderly has local features were different from western and former academic significance to the understanding of the dignity, Individual socioeconomic status, age characteristics, their children development, the elderly self-realization of expected behavior ,the spirit of the times and geographical factors affected old people to give different social representation.According to studies, the representations of dignity of older persons mainly presented in the following four aspects. First is for the elderly could meet the basic social security,deeming to the substance is the representations of dignity,thought "food and clothe" is dignity. Secondly,the majority of the elderly see their children's achievement as part of the development of themselves, feeling that "children's development" is their self-esteem. Thus,the development of children became the representations of dignity of older persons; Thirdly, the elderly's self-realization of expected behavior, due to the influence of age characteristics, the elderly has self-behavior requirements and expectations,"As I have such a great age,I have to tell the truth.", "To my age I should given more influence on the lives of everyone.",etc. These acts of self-expectations, requirements can be realized was to getting dignity in mind by the elderly. Fourthly, the elderly ask for respect and recognition from state and society, which is the important source of respect for the elderly. Both the society's attitude towards the elderly and the national affirmation of history formed the dignity representations of the elderly.The study also explored the formation of the dignity of older persons representations, this dynamic path mainly anchored the elderly dignity in the "good","ideal" value sequence firstly, and objectify into such as "get respect from someone else.", "Getting praises." specific feelings. Eventually, through communication and practice,according to their physical truth gave the dignity representations. Further,this series of steps of anchoring, specification,drawing themes,including the group identity, highlighted the important influence on group communication media and other factors on the elderly dignity obtained. However, the final results of the dignity of these representations would be based on the changing on values and the development of the times to enter a new round of adjustment and updating process,which is the formation of the representations, the dynamic process of development.