Intro and Theories

Question 1

why are we concerned with aging?

Answer 1

• its a universal process
• concerns for older people and improving their quality of life
• need for support services for older people

Question 2

what about the growing aging population?

Answer 2

-not just in canada, where the proportion of older persons is growing
the group of people over 80 is growing the fastest bc **people are living longer

Question 3

gerontology

Answer 3

• the systematic study of aging

interdisciplinary study - draws from research from biosci, clinical medicine, behavioural science and social science

Question 4

goals of gerontology

Answer 4

• to produce more knowledge about aging (researchers)

- applying this knowledge to treat older people (health professionals and training for nurses, OTs, PTs, social workers)

Question 5

critical gerontology

Answer 5

• how aging is different for people in different contexts
  seeks to recognize social, cultural, political-cultural contexts in which other people live
• argues that the increasing numbers of seniors is not the problem but terming it the silver tsunami is a devaluing term

Question 6

centenarians

Answer 6

people who’ve lived for 100+ years

Question 7

what is the biological lifespan of the human species

Answer 7

about 122-125 years

Question 8

what proportion of the canadian population is made up of older people?

Answer 8

15%, but will grow to 25% in 18 years

Question 9

elderspeak

Answer 9

like baby talk to the elderly; sweetie, honey, dear

• condesending, creates low self esteem and reduces the person’s ability to communicate effectively
• decreases quality of interaction, reduces older person;s sense of control

Question 10

how does Dr Robert Butler feel about the origins of ageism?

Answer 10

that it comes from young and middle-aged people feeling uncomfortable with aging
- more interaction b/w younger and older pops lessens ageism

Question 11

amortality

Answer 11

the ageless self

Question 12

intergenerational equity

Answer 12

the call for balance support of older and younger people through public policy and public expenditures

Question 13

ageism

Answer 13

prejudice or discrimination against people based on age

- beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that put people down

Question 14

examples of ageism

Answer 14

• not being chosen for a job over a younger person despite having the same qualifications
  60% of older people have experienced this
• policies to retire at 65
• elderspeak

Question 15

stereotype

Answer 15

one sided, exaggerated and usually prejudiced view of a group or class of people
- there are negative and positive stereotypes

Question 16

examples of stereotypes of older people

Answer 16

• naive, helpless
• bad drivers
• complainers: “organ recital”
• slow
• can’t learn new things, have less intelligence
• forgetful

Question 17

what do we often blame older people for?

Answer 17

problems with healthcare

ex bed blockers

Question 18

marginalization

Answer 18

problems with access and awareness, active exclusion from things
- devalues older people’s contributions
- results in feelings of oppression and invisibility
- limits opportunities and participaiton, social involvement
leading to unfair treatment

Question 19

how does isolation affect mental health?

Answer 19

older people have a 40% higher risk of getting dementia if they are depressed which can result from isolation

Question 20

why do myths and stereotypes about aging still continue?

Answer 20

media portrayal
advertising
political rhetoric: ex aging tsunami
witnessing evidence of a stereotype

Question 21

age markers

Answer 21

grey hair, needing care, hearing aids and glasses

Question 22

labelling people as “old”

Answer 22

• causes older people to resist age markers, being dependent and not ask for help even if they need it
• label can be internalized and change self identity (you feel old), self esteem, coping in later life (older women)

Question 23

social gerontology

Answer 23

a subfield of gerontology

• examines social side of aging as well as practice-related issues
• looks at aging from a social perspective of individuals and the society

Question 24

what do theories do in the study of aging?

Answer 24

no one gerontology theory can explain all of the facts

• guide research and selecting research methods, questions, samples
• help interpret results of studies

Question 25

2 levels of theory

Answer 25

micro level macro level - not all theories fall into one or the other

Question 26

micro-level theories

Answer 26

focus on individuals and their interactions with people and things and their attitudes and opinions

Question 27

macro-level theories

Answer 27

focus on social structures and things that influence the social world ex. global policies about things

Question 28

3 theoretical perspectives

Answer 28

1. interpretive perspective 2. functionalist perspective 3. conflict perspective

Question 29

interpretive perspective

Answer 29

- focus most on MICRO level of social life: social order, situations and how re relate to one another in our lives ex. social exchange theory

Question 30

functionalist perspective

Answer 30

- looks at social order based on consensus, cooperation and shared norms and values - all parts of society share some role/function - when all roles are filled, society stays in balance/ equilibrium

Question 31

functional perspective theories ex

Answer 31

``` structural functionalism disengagement theory activity theory continuity theory age stratification theory life course perspective/theory ```

Question 32

conflict perspective

Answer 32

based on the premise that society consists of conflict between dominant and subordinate groups - as these conflicts arise, poverty and disadvantage can arise in these subordinate groups - experiences early on can set groups of people up for failure later in life

Question 33

conflict perspective theories

Answer 33

political economy theory cumulative disadvantage theory feminist approach - also looks at age, ethnicity, social class

Question 34

other gerontology theories

Answer 34

narrative gerontology moral economy theory critical gerontology post-modern theory

Question 35

structural functionalism (theory)

Answer 35

- society as a system of social institutions that keep society in equilibrium - institutions adjust according to various pressures (ex. more women in labour force means other people have to do things that women used to primarily do)

Question 36

disengagement theory

Answer 36

- mutual withdrawl of individual and society to restore balances to the system - disengagement is a universal and beneficial change needed for the individual and society controversial: more us pushing them out than anything else

Question 37

activity theory

Answer 37

- engagement in activity facilitates adjustment to aging - assumes that any activity will suffice (physical, mental, social, ?) draws on questions as to whether busy is really good in our society (mentality that who cares whether something is meaningful or not)

Question 38

continuity theory

Answer 38

adjustment to aging involves maintaining a consistent sense of self with the past and continuity of activities from mid-life - and this should make you happier

Question 39

age cohort

Answer 39

a group of people born in the same period of time | ex. people born between 1980 and 1985 is an age cohort

Question 40

age grade

Answer 40

a concept used in age stratification theory that is used to describe a period of life defined by society ex. young adulthood, teenager

Question 41

age stratification theory

Answer 41

- movement of age cohorts over the life course - people flow through society in pre-determined age grades as they get older assumes: society changes as people age; experiences of cohorts are similar; people change society, norms and values and roles of cohorts; each age grade has some expectations of roles and behaviours

Question 42

strengths and weaknesses of age stratification theory

Answer 42

strengths: it allows us to study age differences b/w cohorts and highlights the impact of historical and social changes; also shows relationship b/w aging and social structures weaknesses: doesn't always address power differences, social inequalities b/w groups of people and people don't all experience the world the same

Question 43

life course perspective theory

Answer 43

very broad gained prominence among gerontologists and uses macro and micro levels of analysis uses trajectories and transitions to explain: - continuity and change in individuals lives over time - age-related socially-recognized life transitions - the interaction of social life, culture, history and personal biography

Question 44

micro and macro levels of analysis in the life course perspective

Answer 44

micro level: how your experiences impact the rest of your life macro level: how history impacted your age cohort's life

Question 45

trajectories

Answer 45

long term patterns of stability that often changes and include many transitions

Question 46

transitions

Answer 46

changes in social status/ roles as you age such as marriage, parenthood, divorce, remarriage or widowhood. also look at how they are affected by when the transition occurs in life (late or early)

Question 47

strengths and weaknesses of the life course perspective

Answer 47

strengths: used in diff disciplines, patterns of aging aging is a dynamic process and this captures the complexity and interdependantness of people's lives weaknesses: microlevel is very broad, makes it hard for researchers to apply to studies

Question 48

political economy theory

Answer 48

based on the work of carl marx - conflict and change b/w social groups leads to domination of some groups - capitalist society in which we live is to blame for problems w society's views on older people - social programs and policies causing problems for older people

Question 49

cumulative disadvantage theory

Answer 49

- disadvantage early in life accumulates and are magnified over life course - focuses more on childhood poverty

Question 50

feminist approach (theory)

Answer 50

also related to race and ethnicity, the idea that gender is a defining characteristic in social interaction and experience

Question 51

narrative gerontology (theory)

Answer 51

- wants to understand the inside of aging by examining narratives or life stories - shows that people compose their lives through their life stories, which get retold, revisited and reinterpreted as people age

Question 52

moral economy theory

Answer 52

focuses on shared values and social norms that shape popular beliefs in the legitimacy of certain practices and policies

Question 53

critical gerontology (theory)

Answer 53

looks within theory and research to critically examine and question the underlying and "taken for granted" assumptions about aging

Question 54

post-modern theory

Answer 54

contrasts contemporary society with society in the recent past - older persons can create identity meaning of their own age and there are different expectations in different eras for an age group