Sociology 13
As people enter old age, they face challenges. Ageism, which involves stereotyping and discrimination against the elderly, leads to misconceptions about their abilities. Although elderly poverty has been improving for decades, many older people may be detrimentally affected by the 2008 recession. Some elderly people grow physically frail and, therefore, dependent on caregivers, which increases their risk of elder abuse.
As people enter old age, they face challenges. Ageism, which involves stereotyping and discrimination against the elderly, leads to misconceptions about their abilities. Although elderly poverty has been improving for decades, many older people may be detrimentally affected by the 2008 recession. Some elderly people grow physically frail and, therefore, dependent on caregivers, which increases their risk of elder abuse.
Old age affects every aspect of human life: biological, social, and psychological. Although medical technology has lengthened life expectancies, it cannot eradicate aging and death. Cultural attitudes shape the way our society views old age and dying, but these attitudes shift and evolve over time.
Old age affects every aspect of human life: biological, social, and psychological. Although medical technology has lengthened life expectancies, it cannot eradicate aging and death. Cultural attitudes shape the way our society views old age and dying, but these attitudes shift and evolve over time.
The social study of aging uses population data and cohorts to predict social concerns related to aging populations. In the United States, the population is increasingly older (called "the graying of the United States"), especially due to the baby Boomer segment. Global studies on aging reveal a difference in life expectancy between core and peripheral nations as well as a discrepancy in nations' preparedness for the challenges of increasing elderly populations.
The social study of aging uses population data and cohorts to predict social concerns related to aging populations. In the United States, the population is increasingly older (called "the graying of the United States"), especially due to the baby Boomer segment. Global studies on aging reveal a difference in life expectancy between core and peripheral nations as well as a discrepancy in nations' preparedness for the challenges of increasing elderly populations.
The three major sociological perspectives inform the theories of aging. Theories in the functionalist perspective focus on the role of elders in terms of the functioning of society as a whole. Theories in the conflict perspective concentrate on how elders, as a group, are at odds with other groups in society. And theories in the symbolic interactionist perspective focus on how elders' identities are created through their interactions.
The three major sociological perspectives inform the theories of aging. Theories in the functionalist perspective focus on the role of elders in terms of the functioning of society as a whole. Theories in the conflict perspective concentrate on how elders, as a group, are at odds with other groups in society. And theories in the symbolic interactionist perspective focus on how elders' identities are created through their interactions.
gerontology
a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older
cohort
a group of people who share a statistical or demographic trait
geriatrics
a medical specialty focusing on the elderly
grief
a psychological, emotional, and social response to the feelings of loss that accompanies death or a similar event
social gerontology
a specialized field of gerontology that examines the social (and sociological) aspects of aging
selective optimization with compensation theory
a theory based on 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
a theory that focuses on the shared community created by the elderly when they are excluded (due to age), voluntarily or involuntarily, from participating in other groups
age stratification theory
a theory which states that members of society are stratified by age, just as they are stratified by race, class, and gender
continuity theory
a theory which states that 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
activity theory
a theory which suggests that for individuals to enjoy old age and feel satisfied, they must maintain activities and find a replacement for the statuses and associated roles they have left behind as they aged
modernization theory
a theory which suggests that the primary cause of the elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization
exchange theory
a theory which suggests that 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
disengagement theory
a theory which suggests that withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of growing old
gerontocracy
a type of social structure wherein the power is held by a society's oldest members
secondary aging
aging that occurs due to controllable factors like exercise and diet
primary aging
biological factors such as molecular and cellular changes
filial piety
deference and respect to one's parents and ancestors in all things
ageism
discrimination based on age
hospice
healthcare that treats terminally ill people by providing comfort during the dying process
centenarians
people 100 years old or older
supercentenarians
people 110 of age or older
baby Boomers
people in the United States born between approximately 1946 and 1964
elder abuse
the act of a caretaker intentionally depriving an older person of care or harming the person in their charge
senescence
the aging process, including biological, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual changes
gerotranscendence
the idea that as people age, they transcend limited views of life they held in earlier times
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
thanatology
the systematic study of death and dying
physician-assisted suicide
the voluntary use of lethal medication provided by a medical doctor to end one's life
