Las Dimensiones de la Otredad

From the literature, it is clear that most frameworks used to explain elder abuse tend to use relatively ‘grand’ theoretical constructions that seek to understand abuse in all contexts. In contrast, the intention of the current study is to develop a substantive ‘mid-range’ theory to provide a culturally sensitive and relevant understanding of elder abuse within a specific context (see later for fuller discussion).

In exploring the phenomenon of elder abuse, several theoretical frameworks have been published in an effort to try and ‘explain’ why elder abuse occurs. Table 3.2 summarises some of the main ones identified in the literature. Amongst these for instance, Social Exchange Theory, originally developed by Homans (1958) was subsequently adapted by other researchers, such as Dowd (1975) as a framework within which to understand elder abuse in terms of the dependent relationships between an older person and the abuse. Using this approach abuse is seen as a product of their interactions and the responses that occur in family life when ‘normal’ expectations are not met.

On a related tack, Carer Stress Theory (Belsky 1993) suggests that a carer might become an abuser when the care burden is too overwhelming, leading to ‘burnout’ and abuse. Generally, many researchers have tended to incorporate the causal factors of elder abuse into a wider context examining the quality of relationships (Nolan 1993, Reis and Nahmiash 1998).

Some of the studies on the relationship between caregiver stress and elder abuse suggest that the long-term nature of the relationship between the caregiver and

40

the care recipient may be one of the most important factors in predicting occurrences of elder abuse (Cooney and Mortimer 1995, Nolan 1996).

Table 3.2: Key existing theoretical models explaining elder abuse

Concept / Theory Approach Author [year] Article / Journal

Social Exchange Theory

Interpersonal approach Homans (1958) Social Behaviour: Its Elementary Forms, New York: Harcourt Brace.

Summarizes theories and practice for Training

Decalmer and Glendenning (eds.). (1997)

The Mistreatment of Elderly People. London: Sage Publications

Interpersonal approach to identify relationship Types

Walker and Allen (1991)

Relationships Between Caregiving Daughters and Their Elderly Mothers. Gerontologist, 31 (3) (1991): 389–396. Social Learning Theory An analysis of aggressiveness progression Bandura (1973, 1978)

 Aggression: a social learning theory of aggression. Oxford England: Prentice-Hall.  Social learning theory of aggression. Journal of

Communication, 28(3), 12-29.

Caregiver Stress Theory

Developmental context focuses on the parenting and

parental-child

interactional processes

Belsky (1993) Etiology of Child Maltreatment: A Developmental Ecological Analysis.

Psychological Bulletin, 114 (3), 413–434.

Interpersonal approach: the burdened caregivers and the dependent elderlies

Steinmetz (2005) Elder Abuse Is Caused by the Perception of Stress Associated with Providing Care. In Current Controversies on Family Violence, eds., D.R. Loseke, R.J. Gelles, and M.M. Cavanaugh, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, pp.191–206. Examines the

multifaceted nature of elder abuse cases

Wolf (2000) The Nature and Scope of Elder Abuse. Generations, 24, pp. 6–11.

Dyadic Discord Theory

A causal model of courtship aggression

Riggs and O’Leary (1989)

A Theoretical Model of Courtship Aggression, in Violence in Dating Relationships: Emerging Social Issues (Eds.). M.A. Pirog-Good and J.E. Stets, New York: Praeger.

Power and Control Theory

Sociocultural contextual approach

Yllo and Bogard (1998)

In Feminist Perspectives on Wife Abuse, Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage.

Feminist approach Yllo, K.A. (2005) Through a Feminist Lens. In Current

Controversies on Family Violence, (Eds.). D.L. Loseke, R.J. Gelles, and M.M. Cavanaugh, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, pp.19–34.

Sociocultural context

Engles, G. (1977) Inspired by the author and developed by panel to review risk and prevalence of elder abuse and neglect, USA.

Ecological Theory Multi-systemic approach

Bronfenbrenner (1979)

The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design, Boston: Harvard University Press.

Conflict in the family

Conflictual family contextual approach

Pillemer and Wolf (1986)

Elder abuse: conflict in the family, 1986. Dover Mass: Auburn House.

Construction of abuse

Foucauldian approach Biggs and Powell (1999)

Surveillance and elder abuse: the rationalities and technologies of community care. Journal of Contemporary Health, 9, pp.10-18.

Attachment Theory Relational conflict in later life

Shemmings (2000) Adult attachment theory and its contribution to an understanding of conflict and abuse in later life relationships. Journal of Adult Protection, 2(3), 40-49.

Applied theory from research on crime

Integrated perspectives Payne (2005) Crime and elder abuse: an integrated perspective. Springfield: Charles C Thomas.

41

Upon examining the above ‘theories’ it seems clear that the majority focus mostly on the risk factors for elder abuse within an overarching framework. For instance, as with Social Exchange theory, Social Learning Theory, which was initially developed by Bandura (1978) to explain the way children observe the surrounding people’s behaviours and imitate those behaviours. The Theory was applied to elder abuse suggesting that it was actually a learned behaviour influenced by activities related to one’s upbringing and development (Korbin et al. 1995).

The Ecological model (Bronfenbrenner 1979) postulated that to better understand human development, it is important to take into account not only the genetic aspects of the person, his/her physical and social environment as well as interactions among the environment and other broader political and economic conditions. The framework applied in explaining elder abuse provided that abuse is a complex phenomenon, which involves the interplay of multiple factors including individual and family relationships, community and societal environments (Schiamberg and Gans 1999). However, as with definitions of elder abuse, no one theory has received universal support and it is questionable whether an overarching approach will be sufficiently sensitive to account for all abusive situations. Rather, as this study argues, there is a need to take far more account of local and cultural issues.

Furthermore, none of the taxonomies above has sought to explain elder abuse by explicitly incorporating the voices of both older people and frontline professionals suggesting the need for further work in this area. Moreover, studies on elder abuse have been conducted mainly in English-speaking

42

societies dominated by Western cultures. There is little evidence as to whether or not such findings, including theoretical perspectives, apply to Chinese families. Some of the literature relating to the views of older people is considered below.