從心理學的老化理論探討臺灣之成年監護制度

Reconsidering Adult Guardianship in Taiwan through Psychosocial Theories of Aging

本文嘗試從心理學的老化理論出發，探討成年監護制度是否有助達成「好的老化」之目標。「成功老化」理論強調維持個體與社會連結之重要；然而，受監護宣告後不但民事上無行為能力，無法參與市場交易，更會喪失選舉權以及各種團體會員之資格，切斷本人與社會之連結。SOC理論則認為人在老化時，會「選擇」某些目標，將擁有的資源針對這些目標作「最佳化」的利用，並以其他方式來「補償」已失去的功能，因此每個人的最適老化路徑不同；但受監護宣告後，由於本人無法再為任何「選擇」，監護人替本人所為之選擇，也不一定符合本人原本的偏好，SOC歷程的「S（選擇）」不復存在，那麼後續的「O與C（最佳化與補償）」也無法續行。從而，現行成年監護制度明顯有礙成功或最適老化的政策目標，應儘速檢討改善。

This paper analyzes whether the current adult guardianship in Taiwan promotes “positive aging” through relevant psychosocial theories. First, the model of “successful aging” emphasizes the connection between individual and society. However, a person under guardianship not only loses legal capacity so that he/she is not able to perform any transactions in the market, but will also be deprived the right to vote, meaning that social participation becomes impossible. Second, the theory of “selection, optimization with compensation” points out that seniors select and optimize their best abilities and most intact functions while compensating for declines and losses. Therefore, every senior may have different selection and strategy of optimal aging. Under adult guardianship, there is no way for the ward to make any selection because of legal incapacity. At the same time, the guardian, that is, the plenary legal representative has the authority to make all decisions for the ward under the “best interest rule”, which does not require the guardian to follow the preference of the ward. Since the “selection” of SOC model does not exist in guardianship, it is impossible for the ward to continue to pursue optimal goals and compensate anything. As a result, the adult guardianship in Taiwan hinders people from successful or optimal aging and should be improved as soon as possible.