Sociology 13.4
Grandfather feels disempowered as an older person, because he has lost access to resources and has watched his economic and political influence decline.
Age stratification theory
What theories on aging are aligned with the conflict theory perspective of sociology?
Age stratification theory Exchange theory Modernization theory
What describes the theory of aging known as gerotranscendence?
Aging people go beyond the range of the more limited life views they held in younger periods.
Janice notices that growing older means an expansion in her dependence on others and an increase in her need to submit to their will.
Exchange theory
There are several main points to the theory
First, because everyone expects to die one day, and because we experience physical and mental decline as we approach death, it is natural to withdraw from individuals and society. Second, as the elderly withdraw, they receive less reinforcement to conform to social norms. Therefore, this withdrawal allows a greater freedom from the pressure to conform. Finally, social withdrawal is gendered, meaning it is experienced differently by men and women. Because men focus on work and women focus on marriage and family, when they withdraw they will be unhappy and directionless until they adopt a role to replace their accustomed role that is compatible with the disengaged state
Marvin feels socially excluded from his children and grandchildren, who are focused on their computers and cell phones, devices he does not understand how to use.
Modernization theory
Lester treats aging like a process rather than an outcome, in which he retains his power to choose for himself, self-improve, and set goals.
Selective optimization with compensation theory
Margarita feels comfortable in the senior community she lives in, where fellow residents can relate to her cultural points of reference.
Subculture of aging theory
Cummings and Henry (1961)
The social withdrawal they recognized and its notion that elderly people need to find replacement roles for those they've lose, is addressed anew in activity theory
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
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
The central reasoning of modernization theory is
as long as the extended family is the standard family, as in preindustrial economies, elders will have a place in society and a clearly defined role
Age stratification theory has been criticized for its
broadness and its inattention to other sources of stratification and how these might intersect with age
Lars Tornstam
developed a symbolic interactionist theory called gerotranscendence
The earliest gerontological theory in the functionalist perspective is
disengagement theory
Generally, theories within the symbolic interactionist perspective focus on
how society is created through the day-to-day interaction of individuals, as well as the way people perceive themselves and others based on cultural symbols
Theorists working the conflict perspective view society as
inherently unstable, an institution that privileges the powerful wealthy few while marginalizing everyone else
Functionalists gauge how society's parts are working together to
keep society running smoothly
Functionalists find that people with better resources who stay active in other roles adjust better to
old age
As societies modernize, the status of elders decreases, and they are increasingly likely to experience
social exclusion
According to the guiding principle of conflict theory,
social groups compete with other groups for power and scarce resources
Though it may seem obvious now, with our awareness of ageism, age stratification theorists were the first to
suggest that members of society might be stratified by age, just as they are stratified by race, class, and gender
Modernization Theory
suggests that the primary cause of the elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization
Symbolic interactionists stress that
the changes associated with old age, in and of themselves, have no inherent meaning
Continuity theory
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
gerotranscendence
the idea that as people age, they transcend limited views of life they held in earlier times
Functionalists analyze how
the parts of society work together
There are _______ classic theories of aging within the conflict perspective
three
Because age serves as a basis of social control, different age groups will have
varying access to social resources such as political and economic power
The elderly, as a group, are one of society's
vital parts
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
workers no longer must retire upon reaching a specified age
