Sociology Chapter 13: aging and the elderly
disengagement theory
functionalism; suggests that withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of growing old
gerontology
a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and challenges encountered as seniors grow older
cohort
a group of people who share a statistical or demographic trait
social gerontology
a specialized field of gerontology that examines the social aspects of aging
gerontocracy
a type of social structure wherein a society's oldest members hold the power
primary aging
aging due to biological factors such as molecular and cellular change
secondary aging
aging that occurs due to controllable factor such as lack of physical exercise and poor diet
baby boomers
cohort in the US approximately between 1946 and 1964
modernization theory
conflict theory; (cowgil and holmes) suggests that the primary cause of elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization. as long as the extended family is the standard family elders will have a place in society and a clearly defined role
exchange theory
conflict theory; (dowd) suggests we experience an increased dependence as we age and must increasingly submit to the will of others because we have fewer ways of compelling others to submit to us
age stratification theory
conflict theory; (riley, johnson, and foner) suggest that members of society might be stratified by age just as they are stratified by race, class, and gender. Since age serves as a basis of social control, different age groups will have varying access to social resources such as political and economic power
filial piety
deference and respect to ones elders in all things
activity theory
functionalism; according to this theory, activity levels and social involvement are key to this process and key to happiness
continuity theory
functionalism; the elderly make specific choices to maintain consistency in internal (personality structure, beliefs) and external structures (relationships) remaining active and involved throughout their elder years
hospice
health care that treats terminally ill people by providing comfort during the dying process
centenarians
people 100 years old or older
selective optimization with compensation theory
symbolic interactionism; (bates and bates) the idea that successful personal development throughout the life course and subsequent mastery of the challenges associated with everyday life are based on the components of selection, optimization, and compensation
subculture of aging theory
symbolic interactionism; focuses on the shared community created by the elderly when they are excluded (due to age) voluntarily or involuntarily, from participating in other groups
life span
the length of time for which a person lives
dependency ratio
the number of nonproductive citizens (young, disabled, elderly) to productive working citizens
life expectancy
the number of years a newborn is expected to live
life course
the period from birth to death, including a sequence of predictable life events such as physical maturation
physician-assisted suicide
the use of lethal medication privided by a doctor to end one's life
gerotransendence
throughout the aging process, the elderly become less self-centered and feel more peaceful and connected to the natural world
phases of aging
young-old 65-74 middle old- 75-84 old-old 85 and over
