Abstract

1 Marchsecond section concerns factors in-creased preoccupation with himself. There appears to be a latent assumption that successful aging consists in being as much hike a middle-aged person as possible.” It is emphasized that most writings on aging suggest that an individual should keep expanding his contacts and activities, that he should continue “to develop new interests and make new contacts.” Few studies even mention death and in general it seems to be felt that it is morbid if the old person has anypreoccupation tion whetherwith death. The authors quesa healthy old person should notsome thought to the problem of death. It is pointed out that many writers on the subject of retirement assume that most people dread retirement whereas the authors feel that a large percentage of people particularly of middle class and working class adjust better and are better satisfied after retirement. It is pointed out that in primitive society older persons wish to feel needed or wanted because this would insure their survival. The authors likewise challenge the claim of many writers that older persons can be well satisfied with life and with many satisfactory relationships but still be entirely free of sexuality. This brief