Sexuality evolves throughout our lives, and is shaped by social conventions that give meaning and significance to life events and influence individual responses in keeping with the values and expectations prevailing at that time. According to lifespan developmental theory (Baltes, 1987), people move through identifiable phases or periods requiring adaptation to personal or environmental changes that alter social roles, personal identity, and expectations. Individual adaptation to life events is not just a passive phenomenon, but a dynamic process that is influenced by the social context in which adult transitions take place. Socialization processes, with their implied expectations, norms, and values, help shape the sexual thoughts, interest, and activities of older individuals. The aged may incorporate these normative sanctions and perceive them not only as external constraints but also as a reflection of their personal values and preferences.

Social attitudes toward aging and sexuality

Cultural stereotypes about the sexuality of aging people are embedded in general negative attitudes towards the aged. Several authors have written about negative beliefs that prevail in Western societies concerning the aged (Hendricks and Hendricks, 1977; Rogers, 1979; Hultsch and Deutsch, 1981). Butler (1969) coined the term ‘ageism’ to indicate prejudicial attitudes toward older people, as well as discriminatory practices against this social group. Sexuality is popularly viewed as a youth-oriented activity. Prevailing social stigmas are that sexual interest and activity among the aged is inappropriate, that elderly people are either uninterested or unable to engage in sex and that they are physically unattractive and therefore sexually undesirable (Riportella-Muller, 1989).