Overcontrol in Retirement Communities

Overcontrol, a personal propensity to control or dominate others, is examined as found in large retirement communities. Aspects of personality theory related to control issues are examined and utilized, particularly social cognitive and cognitive-affective personality system theories. Aspects of social psychological theory, particularly interactional role theory and reference group theory, are also employed. Overcontrol, which is asserted to flourish particularly in large retirement communities, is viewed as a coping device designed to ensure protection against anxiety, and as an intensification of a healthy control trait in the elderly. Three patterns are presented and some approaches to their mitigation are discussed.