understanding 3 key ageing processes

Question 1

physiological ageing description

Answer 1

• we grow up and older our bodies change (observing how the body changes over time)
• use examples
• universal aspect largely beyond our control

Question 2

criticism of using physiological ageing alone to understand age

Answer 2

doesn’t give meanings behind the ageing process and tell us what society thinks

Question 3

life course definition and description

Answer 3

• socially and culturally defined timetable of events, norms and social practices which together indicate what is expected of a person as they grow older
• interrelated events with cumulative outcomes
• focus on transitions from one stage to the next

Question 4

which theorist is associated with the life course and what is his argument?

Answer 4

Hareven. 3 processes that help transition

1) family time-processes that create a family e.g. marriage and childbirth.
2) individual time-closely associated with family time as they cross-over.
3) historical time-economic, social, institutional and cultural changes in wider society, including economic constraints, demographic factors and legal changes that shape transitions from one life-course stage to the next

Question 5

cohort definition (2 things)

Answer 5

collective ageing element.
1) contextualises individuals in the time they were born into
2) groups people born at the same time together
share similar experiences but become excluded from others

Question 6

theorist associated with cohort

Answer 6

Mannheim

Question 7

criticism of life course to understand ageing

Answer 7

Itzin- to define life in terms of stages is problematic as vary cross-culturally

Question 8

example of adulthood to support life course

Answer 8

Wallace talks about markers of adulthood.

private public and official

Question 9

example of old age to support physiological ageing

Answer 9

old and grey-Hockey and James ‘one foot in the grave.’ Seal talks about synthesising with death

Question 10

example of youth to support cohort

Answer 10

1950/60’s youth
Coffield describes it as golden age with advantageous labour market, can leave school at 15 and walk into a job. also high consumer culture. Carter supports with evidence that 2/3 girls and 1/2 boys had jobs within 2 weeks of leaving school. different to todays cohort as remain in education for longer