Social Forces and Aging: An Introduction to Social Gerontology - Hardcover

Atchley, Robert C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0534533434 ISBN 13: 9780534533434

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

Atchley's interdisciplinary approach has produced a text which provides the concepts, information, insight, and examples students need to achieve a basic understanding of aging as a social process. Covering the physical problems, inner experiences, and instrumental needs of the aging, Atchley examines aging on both an individual and societal level. Atchley covers major areas of theory, research, social policy, and practice in a clear and organized manner to make social gerontology accessible to students from all backgrounds. This text is the classic book for the course that continually keeps pace with the dramatic changes in the field, including new theories, research, programs, and issues. The book is organized so that individual aging, and adaptation to aging in everyday life, is examined first. Atchley then moves on to explore the needs and resource demands that aging as a phenomenon presents to society. He then delves into society's response to aging.

About this title

About the Author

Robert Atchley is Professor and Chair of the Department of Gerontology at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. His gerontology interests include adult development, spiritual development, long-term care, public policy, work and retirement, health change and disability, and family issues. Dr. Atchley was President of the American Society on Aging from 1988 to 1990 and has also served in numerous leadership positions in the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. He is associate editor of the Encyclopedia of Gerontology and was founding editor of the journal, Contemporary Gerontology. From 1974 to 1998, he was director of the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He has received more than a dozen awards for his scholarship, teaching, and professional service in the field of aging. He is author of over100 articles and book chapters in social gerontology literature and more that a dozen books and research monographs, including "Understanding American Society" (1970), "The Sociology of Retirement "(1976), "Aging: Continuity and Change "(1987),"Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences" (1999), and his tenth edition of his introductory gerontology text, "Social Forces and Aging" (2003). A native of California, Dr. Barusch completed her BA at Reed College, Portland Oregon, and her MSW and PhD at University of California, Berkeley. She joined the University of Utah faculty in 1985, and is now a professor in the College of Social Work. Dr. Barusch writes extensively on issues related to social justice and the elderly, and has authored a social policy text: Foundations of Social Policy: Social Justice, Public Programs and the Social Work Profession, that was released by F.E. Peacock Publishers, Winter, 2002. Dr Barusch enjoys swimming, throwing pots, raising exotic birds, and spending time with her family.

Review

Part One: SETTING THE STAGE. 1. The Scope of Social Gerontology. What is Gerontology? What is Human Aging? Defining the Aging and the Older Populations. Social Gerontology is a Unique Field of Study. Social Policy Issues. Professional Practice. Careers in the Field of Aging. Summary. 2. The Demography of Aging. Measuring Age Structure. Growth of the older Population. Composition of the Older Population. Geographic Distribution of the Older Population. Living Arrangements. Population Processes and the Older Population. Summary. 3. The History of Aging in America. Modernization Theory. Aging in Colonial America. From the Revolution to the Civil War, The Beginning of Industrialization. Civil War to 1900. 19 00 to 1929. The Great Depression. 1942 to 1965. 1965 to 1980. The 1980's. Modernization. Theory Revisited. Summary. Part Two: BASIC ASPECTS OF INDIVIDUAL AGING. 4. Physical Aging. Why We Grow Older. Physical Consequences of Aging. Summary. 5. Psychological Aspects of Aging. Aging and Specific Psychological Functions. Adult Development: Personality, Self , and Life Structure. Mental Disorders. Summary. 6. Social Aspects of Individual Aging. Defining Social Aging, Social Roles. The Cultural Life Course. Socialization and Acculturation. Role Anticipation and Adaptation. Social Factors in Individual Development. Aging and Changes in Social Context. Lifestyles. Summary. 7. Personal Adaptation to Aging. What is Adaptation? General Ways to Adapt. Specific Adaptations. Escape Rather Than Adaptation. Effective Adaptation. Summary. Part Three: AGING IN DOMAINS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. 8. Family, Friends, and Social Support. Types of Bonding. Family. Friends. Social Support. Summary. 9. Employment and Retirement. Midlife Career Changes. Employment Problems of Older Workers. Bridges to Retirement. Retirement. The Retirement Process. Effects of Retirements on Individuals. Summary. 10. Activities and Lifestyles. Concepts About Activities. Activities in Middle Adulthood. Aging and Changes in Activities. Spheres of Activity. What Activities are Desirable for Older People? Summary. 11. Religion and Spirituality. Concepts and Language. Organized Religion. Attending Religious Services. Informal Religious Behavior. Subjective Elements of Religion and Spirituality. Conceptions for Spiritual Development. Effects of Religion and Spirituality. Research Issues. Summary. 12. Dying, Death, Bereavement, and Widowhood. Defining Death. Dealing with Dying. Bereavement. Death of a Spouse. Summary. Part Four: AGING AFFECTS NEEDS AND RESOURCES. 13. Income and Housing. Income. Housing. Summary. 14. Health and Long-Term Care. Health Care, Health Care Needs. Long-Term Care, Regulation of Health and Long-Term Care. Summary. 15. Community Social Services. Community Facilities That Serve Older People. Services. The Organization and Financing of Social Services. Summary. Part Five: AGING AND SOCIETY. 16. Aging in Contemporary America Society and Culture. The Nature of Society and Culture. Ideas About Aging. Language. Age Prejudice an d Discrimination. Societal Disengagement. Age Stratification. Ethics. Law, and Aging. Summary. 17. Social Inequality. Social Class. Dimensions of Disadvantage. Race. Ethnicity. Gender. Multiple Jeopardy. Summary. 18. The Economy. Economic Ideology. Economic Structure. The Economic Functions of Retirement. The Economics of Retirement Income. Retirement Income in the Future. Private Enterprise and the Aging Problem. Aging People as Consumers. Economic Exploitation of Elders. Summary. 19. Politics and Government. Overview. Political Activity. Political Influence. Government Response to Issues Concerning Aging. Making Policy. Summary. 20. Epilogue: Aging and the Future. Directions of Social Change. Demographic clues to the future. The Future of Psychological Aging. The Future of Social Aging. Society's Futures Response. The Future of Social Gerontology. Summary. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0534533434
• ISBN 13: 9780534533434
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 592