Aging as a Social Process
What term refers to the average number of years a person is expected to live at birth?
Life expectancy
What does it mean to say that aging is socially constructed?
The meaning and status of aging vary across cultures and historical periods.
What is the main goal of theory in aging research?
To explain and interpret patterns or phenomena related to aging
What type of research uses numerical data to identify patterns statistically?
Quantitative research
What term describes patterned relationships that organize power and privilege in society?
Social structures
What two demographic trends are primarily responsible for population aging in Canada?
Declining fertility rates and declining mortality rates
What hypothesis argues that industrialization led to a decline in the social status of older adults?
The modernization hypothesis
Which foundational perspective views society as a system of interdependent parts working to maintain stability?
Structural functionalism
What kind of research design follows the same individuals over time?
Longitudinal (panel) research
What concept explains how advantages or disadvantages build up over time?
Cumulative advantage/disadvantage
What framework emphasizes that aging is shaped by individual lives, social institutions, and historical context?
The life course perspective
Why did elders often hold high status in hunting-and-gathering or agrarian societies?
They held knowledge, land, property, or survival skills
Which theory argues that continued social engagement leads to higher life satisfaction in later life?
Activity theory
What is one strength of qualitative research in aging studies?
It provides insight into lived experiences and meanings of aging
What term describes when policies fail to keep pace with social change and people’s needs?
Structural lag
Name the four interacting dimensions of individual aging discussed in class.
Chronological, biological, psychological, and social
What term describes culturally distinct groups within a society that have unique aging experiences?
Subcultures
Which theory suggests that withdrawal from social roles in later life is functional for both society and individuals?
Disengagement theory
What is a major limitation of cross-sectional research when studying aging?
It cannot separate age effects from cohort or period effects
What does “double jeopardy” mean in the context of aging and inequality?
Experiencing compounded disadvantage due to age plus another social category (e.g., gender or race)
Why is it misleading to describe population aging as a “burden” on society?
Because aging outcomes depend on social policies, education, health promotion, and planning, not age itself.
Using an intersectional lens, why might two older adults in Canada experience aging very differently?
Because age intersects with gender, race, class, ethnicity, and immigration status, shaping unequal life chances
Which perspective argues that dependency in old age is produced by political and economic structures rather than biology?
Political economy of aging (or critical gerontology)
Explain the difference between cohort effects and period effects.
Cohort effects arise from shared experiences of people born at the same time
Period effects result from historical events affecting all age groups
What is generational equity, and why is it controversial in aging societies?
It concerns fairness in distributing resources across generations, especially around pensions, healthcare, housing, and public spending