Chapter Overview

1. What is social gerontology, and how is it related to the broader field of gerontology?
Gerontology is the study of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. Social gerontology is a subfield of gerontology that focuses on the social as opposed to the physical or biological aspects of aging.

2. How is old age defined, and what difference does the definition make?
There is no single agreed upon way to define aging and old age. The most commonly used definition in the United States is chronological age, but there are many other ways to determine when someone is considered old. These include taking on a social role such as widow or retiree, functional age, or subjective age identity. The definition that is most useful depends on the purpose. For example, chronological age is often used for defining eligibility for a benefit, such as Social Security, but functional age may be a more useful way to determine who is best suited to perform certain activities.

3. What is a cohort, and why are social gerontologists interested in cohorts?
A cohort is a group of individuals who have experienced the same event in the same time period. The most common way to define cohorts is by year of birth. Cohorts are shaped by historical events, by their size and composition, and by changes that occur in the social institutions around them. Age changes occur in individuals over time while age differences are ways one cohort differs from another. The concept of a cohort is useful for distinguishing age changes from age differences.

4. What is the life course framework, and how is it useful to gerontologists?
The life course framework is an approach to the study of aging that focuses on the interaction between historical events, personal decisions, individual opportunities, and later life outcomes. It combines a concern with individual aging with an awareness of changing age structures. The two core concepts of life course research are transitions and trajectories.

5. What research methods do social gerontologists use, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of different methods?
In cross-sectional research comparisons are made between people of different age cohorts at one point in time. Cross-sectional studies are useful for examining age differences in attitudes and behaviors, but they cannot measure age changes. Longitudinal research, which follows the same individuals over time, is better suited for distinguishing between age, period, and cohort effects. Research on aging may be either quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative research relies primarily on survey data. Qualitative studies draw upon field research, in-depth interviews, and oral histories. Quantitative research is most useful for identifying large-scale trends whereas qualitative research provides insights into social processes and individual experiences.

6. What is ageism, and how is it perpetuated?
Ageism is defined as stereotyping and discrimination against people on the basis of age. Stereotypes are a composite of attitudes and beliefs about people as a group. When people act on the basis of these beliefs, they are guilty of age discrimination. Ageism can take many forms. The form ageism takes differs by gender, because there is a double standard concerning aging, whereby men are valued by their accomplishments and women by their appearance. Because of this double standard, women are more likely than men to attempt to conceal their age.