, 2008
4th edition
CHAPTER 1.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 1 (book, p. 22-23)
2. When is someone old? Define and distinguish between chronological, social/functional, subjective, biological, and psychological aging. What are the pros and cons of using each definition? (book and lecture)
3. Social gerontologists often define older people into three groups relative to their functional capabilities. What are the labels and age range for these three groups? (book)
4. What is a cohort? How do history, compositional differences, and structure changes impact a cohort? (book and lecture)
5. What are the names given to the five distinct birth cohorts in the twentieth century? What birth years are associated with each of these cohorts? (book)
6. What is ageism?
How do stereotypes and age discrimination produce “ageism” in our society?
Describe how ageism differs by gender. How is ageism perpetuated through the various forms of media? Be able to discuss research findings on the effects of media on ageism. (book and lecture)
7. What are some of the common stereotypes about the elderly? Discuss the actual facts for each of the listed stereotypes on page 14. (book and lecture)
8.
CHAPTER 2.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 2 (book, p. 48)
2.
3.
What is theory? What is the role of theory in the research process?(book and lecture)
What is a micro theory? What is a macro theory? (book)
4.
What are the basic statistical profiles among older people for health, marital status, income and poverty and education? What implications do these trends have for future generations of older people? (book)
Distinguish between the general approaches of the psychosocial and sociological micro theories of aging. Describe each of the psychosocial theories (Role theory, Disengagement theory,
Activity theory, and Continuity theory) as well as the sociological theories (Subculture theory,
Exchange theory, and Social Constructionism). (book and lecture)
5. Describe the macro theories of aging, including modernization theory, age stratification theory, age integration theory, political economy theories, and feminist theories. (book and lecture)
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1.
2.
Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 3 (book, p.69)
What is the life course framework? What are the key concepts? (For example: social roles, role allocation, role conflict, role transitions, and countertransitions) How are they interrelated?
Define. Why are some people are more resilient to major changes in roles that often accompany significant historical events (wars, economic recessions, Sept 11 lecture) th type events, etc.)? (book and
3. Define age, period, and cohort effects and explain how they interact with one another. (book and lecture)
4. What is the major difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal research? Be able to define each. What are their strengths and weaknesses? How are cross-sectional and longitudinal methods used to distinguish age, period, and cohort effects? (book and lecture)
5. What are age norms and age timetables? How are they similar? How are they different? What do they imply about the timing of life course events? (book and lecture)
6. How is the duration of life events influenced by social, economic, and demographic factors? How did a duration change lead to a new definition of young adulthood? (book and lecture)
7. What are common life-course trajectories? How does the sequencing of life events effect life transitions and life rolls? (book and lecture)
8. How do life events experienced early in life effect later life transitions and outcomes? (book and lecture)
9. What is the theory of cumulative disadvantage? How is this theory tied to gender and race? (book and lecture)
10. How has the “State” altered the nature of the life course?
(book)
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 4
(book, p. 91)
2. What was the baby boom? How did it effect demographic and population trends in the US? (book and lecture)
3. What is a Census Bureau? What service does it provide? How accurate are its reports nationally and internationally? ( book)
4. Define, contrast and compare the two ways we typically measure individual aging (life span and life expectancy). How is life expectancy linked to race and gender? (book)
5. What is a sex ratio? How is it defined? How does the sex ratio change over the life course?
(book)
6. What is population aging? What are the three demographic processes that can change a populations age structure? Define each. (book and lecture)
7. Describe how the age structure is graphed with a population pyramid. How do you interpret the population pyramid. Be able to construct a population pyramid. (book and lecture)
8. What are the three stages of demographic transition? Hint from lecture: High balance, transitional growth, and low balance demographic transition. Describe each.
(book and lecture)
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7.
8.
9.
4.
What are elderly and child dependency ratios? Are they accurate? How are they used to assess population aging? Note: error in book! (book and lecture)
10. How have population trends changed in the United States? How has the age structure effected this? Fertility? Mortality? Migration? Dependency ratio? Life expectancy? Sex ratio? What is the
2.
3. tie between fertility; mortality and SES? (book and lecture)
CHAPTER 5.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 5 (book, p.117-118)
Was there ever a golden age of aging? Explain. (book)
Define then compare and contrast veneration for the aged and gerentocracy. How was veneration tied to Puritanism during colonial times? What was the status of aged men, women and slaves during this time? (book)
According to Fischer, how did the status of the aged change in the late 18 th century? What were some indications and causes of this change? H ow does Achenbaum’s work on the same time period differ? (book)
5. Define extended and nuclear family households. During the pre-industrial society, were extended family or nuclear family households more common? Why? How did property and inheritance effect this? (book)
6. What caused the increased urbanization in the late 1800's? How did urbanization effect the structure of the household between 1860-1900? (book)
In the industrialization period, how were the old pushed out of the workforce? (book)
How did almshouses slowly change to old age homes and what caused these changes to occur?
(book)
9. Explain the basic tenants of modernization theory. In what ways does modernization theory accurately depict the post-industrial elderly situation? In what ways is this theory inadequate or flawed?
(book)
10. How did modernization and demographic trends in the U.S. change the status of the elderly in the
U.S.? Contrast and compare these changes with the potential effects of modernization and demographic trends in China. (book, lecture)
CHAPTER 6.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 6
(book, p.146-147)
2. What are the two major theories of biological aging? Do either of these theories fully explain the aging process? Defend your answer. (book and lecture)
3. What is the wear and tear theory? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this perspective?
(book and lecture)
4. What is the somatic mutation theory? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this perspective? (book and lecture)
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5. What is the immune function theory? (Auto-immune) What are the strengths and weaknesses of this perspective? (book and lecture)
6. What is the cross-linkage theory? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this perspective?
(book and lecture)
7. What is the free radical theory? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this perspective?
( book and lecture)
8.
9.
What is the genetic control theory? (Cellular aging) What are the strengths and weaknesses of this perspective? (book and lecture)
What is active life expectancy? What social factors are related to it? Explain. What biological changes decrease active life expectancy? Explain. (book)
10. The author mentions seven major types of biological aging. What are they and what are some of the significant biological changes associated with each? Hint: exterior body, nervous system, sensory organs, skeletal system, muscular system, reproductive system, and cardiovascular system. (book, lecture, and film)
11.
12.
What age-related illnesses occur due to these biological changes? (book and lecture)
What is sleep apnea? How is it treated? (lecture)
3.
CHAPTER 7.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 7
(book, p 174)
2. How are attributions made about creativity and wisdom closely related to aging processes? Are older people wiser? (book)
What are the two main types of intelligence? Define and give examples of each. Are there lifecourse patterns to changes in intelligence? How is socioeconomic status related to intelligence?
(book)
4. What are learning and memory? How are they effected by changes in age? What is the difference between short- and long-term memory? (book)
5. What are the three most common mental disorders that effect the elderly? Describe and give examples of each. How do these effect quality of life for the aged? (book and lecture)
6. What is Alzheimer’s disease? How is it diagnosed? How many people are affected? What are the main stages of the disease? What treatments are there? (book and lecture)
7. How does personality effect an indiv idual’s ability to cope and adapt to life changes? What other factors (nonpsychological) effect an individual’s ability to adapt?
(book and lecture)
8. Briefly describe Erikson’s Theory of Identity Development. What are some criticisms of his theory? (book)
9. According to Levinson, what is the pattern of “culminating life structures” of men’s transition through adulthood? What gender differences in the transition process did Levinson find between women and men? (book)
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8.
9.
10.
11.
7.
What are Apter’s four types of women in mid-life?
(book)
What are some of the major critiques of stage theories? ( book)
CHAPTER 8.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 8 ( book, p.205)
2. What is a social support system? What is a support bank? Convoy model of social relations?
What effect do gender and family structure have on social support systems?
(book)
3. What is verticalization of the family system? Define the bean pole family structure. What social factors are most responsible for the current trends? (book and lecture)
4. What is marital status of older people? How does it differ by gender? Why? (book and lecture)
5. What is the family life cycle? How is it an inaccurate depiction of modern family life? What might a more complete model include? (book)
6. How does marital satisfaction change over the life course? What are possible reasons for these fluctuations? What factors influence marital satisfaction? What are the major gender differences in marital satisfaction? How does retirement affect marital satisfaction ?
(book and lecture)
What are the general findings of the national sex surveys described in the book. What populations do they describe? (book and lecture)
What are the main causes of male sexual impotence? (lecture)
What medical advances in the last 5 years have changed the incidence and frequency of marital sex among older couples? (lecture)
10. What factors influence parent-child relationships in later life? What effect does divorce have on parent-child relationships? (book)
11. How prevalent is elder abuse and neglect? What is the difference between abuse and neglect?
Why does elder abuse occur? ( lecture, class presentation)
12. What is the theory of intergenerational solidarity? How does intergenerational solidarity vary by race and ethnicity? How does previous levels of solidarity effect current levels of solidarity?
How does geographic proximity affect solidarity? (book and lecture)
13. What is the frequency of divorce and remarriage in later life? How does a divorce, remarriage, or unmarried status influence the typical pattern of contact and support in old age ? (book and lecture)
14. What is the pattern of sibling relationships in later life? How do these relationships change over the life-course? (book)
15. Describe the three styles of grandparenting. How do these differ by race and ethnicity? How does the quality of grandparent-grandchild relationship change over the life course? (book)
16. What is the frequency of grandparents raising grandchildren? How do the rates differ by race?
What are some of the main reasons it happens? ? (book)
17. What constitutes a grandparent career? How does divorce affect grandparenting? (book and lecture)
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18. What effect do friendships have on life satisfaction of the elderly? What are the major sources of friendships in later life? How frequently do contacts between friends occur in later life? What are the major functions of these friendships? How do friendships change over the life-course?
(book)
1.
2.
Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 9 (book, p.226)
How does residential proximity between children and parents change over the life-course? What are the three phases of residential proximity? How does proximity differ by race, sex, and social class? (book and lecture)
What is “aging in place”? What is a major problem for people who choose to age in place?
(book) 3.
4. What is the pattern of home ownership among older Americans? How does it differ by sex, race and income? (book and lecture)
5. What are the major housing problems of the aged? What proportion of the homeless are elderly?
(book and lecture)
6. What are the major forms of alternative living arrangements for the elderly? What are some of the major issues in moving out of one’s home into an alternative living arrangement?
(book and lecture)
CHAPTER 10.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 10 (book, p. 251)
2. Give some examples of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. How do they differ? What type of care is available for people with limited ADLs and IADLs? Who typically provides this care? (book)
3. How long does caregiving typically last (in years)? How many hours a week does a primary caregiver spend helping the care recipient? What type of care is given? What is the gender and health status of the typical caregiver? (book)
4. How does gender influence the type of tasks performed by the caregiver? The amount of care given? The feelings of obligation? Why might these differences exist? When is there little or no difference among the sexes? (book and lecture)
5. What is the effect of women’s employment on caregiving? What is the effect of caregiving on women’s employment?
(book and lecture)
6. How does caregiving effect the psychological well being of the primary caregiver? What are the costs? What are the benefits? What are the signs of caregiver stress? (book and lecture)
7. How does caregiving typically impact the relationship between parent and child? Between caregiver and siblings? Between caregiver and spouse? Grandchildren? (book)
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8. What are the most common home and community based services? How are these beneficial to the frail elderly? Why are policy makers wary of expanding these programs? Who should have priority in obtaining home care services? Why? (book)
9.
10.
What percent of elderly currently live and will eventually live in a nursing home? (book)
What percent of nursing homes are operating at a sub-standard level? What are some of the problems in these homes? Why might these problems exist? How does for-profit ownership influence the quality of care given? (book, lecture, class presentation)
11. Why is it difficult for a middle class citizen to gain access to a nursing home? Who is most likely to receive government aid in paying for nursing home care? What is spending down, and who is most likely to do it? (book)
12.
13.
What is a total institution and why are nursing homes considered one? (book)
What are some of the difficulties an elderly person faces in adjusting to a nursing home? What problems might they encounter on a daily basis? (book and lecture)
14. Why is patient abuse a problem in nursing homes? (book and class presentation)
15. What difficulties do families face when they place their parents in an institution?
(book)
1. Define ea ch of the “key terms” for Chapter 11 (book, p. 279)
2. How do social scientists define welfare? What is a welfare state and how does it effect social relations? (book)
3. Define and compare the three types of welfare programs. What type of taxes are associated with each? (book)
4. Describe the nature and pervasiveness of the three types of income support. Who is eligible for these programs? Are they effective? Why or why not? (book)
5. Explain how the three health care programs work. Do they offer adequate insurance against health problems? Who is eligible for these programs? (book)
6. The author mentions two programs that offer support for the disabled. Briefly describe the purpose of each program. Explain who is eligible for each program, how long they remain eligible, and what the characteristics are of the typical recipient. What work disincentives are associated with support for the disabled? (book)
7. What are the options for people who need long term care? How do eligibility requirements effect life course changes for the elderly in need of care? (book)
8. How do social services increase independence among the elderly? Who benefits the most from senior centers? How is public housing related to the elderly? (book)
9. Describe the positions of people on both sides of the age versus need debate. (book)
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 12 (book, p. 303)
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2. Briefly describe the trends in labor force participation over time by age, sex, and race. What social factors have increased women ’s participation in the labor force? What social factors have affected minority participation in the labor force? (book and lecture)
3. Describe the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. In what ways has it been successful in reducing age discrimination? In what ways has it failed? (book, lecture, class presentation)
4. Why are employers biased against older workers? Are their perception of older worker accurate?
(book and lecture)
5. Why do older worker who lose their jobs pay a higher price than younger workers? What are the major costs that older worker who lose their jobs have to face? What are the problems with
COBRA? (book)
6. What are bridge jobs? How do they differ in industry and pay from other jobs? For those who work bridge jobs, what psychological differences might exist among voluntary and economic parttime workers? (book)
7. What is phased retirement? What is the benefit of phased retirement for workers and their employers? What might be some problems? (book and lecture)
8. What is contingent work? Why do employees now prefer a contingent work force? What are the advantages and disadvantages of contingent work for older workers? (book)
9. What are the three major patterns of labor force participation among older women? How well does the male model of continuous employment fit most women’s labor force experiences? How are workforce opportunities different for men and women, and for older women rather than younger women?
(book)
10. Describe the effects of social security and the two recent changes to social security regulations on retirement trends. (book, lecture, class presentation)
11. How have early retirement incentive programs influenced trends toward retirement? What plans are now replacing EIRPs? Why? What are the differences between defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans? How do they differentially affect retirement decisions? (book and lecture)
12. The book mentions five considerations involved in deciding when to retire (hint: pages 297-299).
How do each differentially affect retirement decisions? (book and lecture)
13. What two theories are used to predict retirement satisfaction? Describe each. What lifestyle factors correlate with higher satisfaction in retirement? How is retirement satisfaction different for men and women? (book and lecture)
14. What have been the trends in volunteer work by older people? How does volunteering benefit older people? (book and lecture)
15. How does religiosity and religious involvement influence the psychological and physical well being of the aged? What are the race differences in religious participation among older people?
(book and lecture)
1.
2.
Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 13 (book, p. 326)
What are the three stages of epidemologic transistion? (book and lecture)
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3.
4.
Describe the compression of morbidity and its antithesis. Which one appears to be currently supported? Explain. (book and lecture)
Are people with chronic diseases always disabled? Compare diagnostic measures with functional status in your answer. (book)
5. How do health lifestyles effect the likelihood of developing a chronic disease? Describe the importance and behavioral pattern of the four health lifestyles listed in the book. (book)
6. How does socioeconomic status effect health? How is SES measured for the general public?
Why doesn’t the standard measure of SES work for the aged?
(book)
7. What two theories are used to explain the relationship between education, health and aging?
Which one is better supported by research? Is this true for the elderly of every age? (book and lecture)
8.
9.
Who has better health and less disability: men or women? What are the differences?
Why do men have a lower life expectancy than women?
(book and lecture)
10.
11. What is fee-for-service health care? What is managed care? How do these guide the doctorpatient relationship? What factors influence older people choosing between these programs?
(book)
12. How is medicare changing? Why? What has been the effect of these changes?
(book, lecture, class presentation)
13. What are Medigap policies? What are some of the reasons employers are discontinuing this type of insurance? How will this effect the elderly?
(book)
How are race and ethnicity linked to health? How do they tie back into education, the health care system, and the theory of cumulative disadvantage? (book and lecture)
How does physician bias and poor communication effect the health of the elderly? (book)
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 14 (book, p. 348)
How do definitions of death differ across non-western and western societies? (book)
How has the perception of death changed in the United States? Why? What are five ways we try to deny death? (book and lecture)
How do perceptions of death change over the life course?
(book)
What are the five stages of dying according to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross? Describe each briefly.
What criticisms can be made about this theory? Contrast KublerRoss with Kavanaugh’s coping processes. What are some of the ways that we can better cope with the death of a loved one?
(book and lecture)
6. When are you really dead? What are the nine common traits described by people who report near death experiences? What are the criticisms of “near death” reports? (lecture)
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7. Compare and contrast passive and active - voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. How do current laws deal with each of them? Do we have a right to die? Or do we have an obligation to die?
What is the slippery slope argument? (book, lecture, class presentation)
8. What are the suicide rates compared to population rates among the aged? Why does suicide increase with age? What are the characteristics of the elderly who commit suicide? (book)
9. What is the goal of the hospice movement? What basic services are provided? To whom are they administered? How is hospice care typically paid for? (book)
10. How does widowhood reorganize an individual’s social support network? How does it alter friendship patterns? (book and lecture)
11.
12.
How do men adjust to widowhood compared to women? Why might this be so? (book and lecture)
How do gender differences influence the way children react to their parent’s death? How do sons typically react? How do daughters typically react?
(book and lecture)
13. What i s the role of a funeral director? What services are generally included in a funeral’s price tag? What services/products are not included? What is the cost of an average funeral? What is embalming and why is it done? Why have some called for Federal regulation of funeral homes?
(lecture)
.
5.
6.
1.
2.
Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 15
(book, p. 376)
How has the poverty status of the elderly changed over the past forty years? How did post-war prosperity influence this?
(book and lecture)
3. Why does the median household income drop after age 55? What happens when you consider household size and the value of assets? (book and lecture)
4. What have baby boomers done to reduce the effects of the 1970-1990 economic slump? Were they successful? What predictions have been made for their retirement years? (book)
In what ways is Social Security a success? Why is confidence declining?
(book and lecture)
How does the Social Security Trust Fund operate? According to the Social Security Board of
Trustees, 1996, what is the future of Social Security? Why is this so? (book and lecture)
7. In 1996 the Advisory Council on Social Security offered three very different solutions to restore the crumbling Social Security system. Describe the three main options for social security reform.
What are the pros and cons for each? Three specific suggestions were made to restore the trust fund. What are these suggestions and what are the pros and cons of these suggestions? (book, lecture, and class presentation)
8. What is a pension? What are defined benefit plans? What problems are associated with this type of pension (DB)? What laws have been passed to overcome these problems? What is vesting?
Portability? (book and lecture)
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9. What are defined contribution plans? Give and example. What problems are associated with this plan? (book and lecture)
10.
11.
What is an IRA? a Roth IRA? How are they similar and different? What are other ways people save for retirement? What should be the three major components of a retirement plan?
(book and lecture)
Do most Americans feel prepared for retirement? Are they really? How does timing of investment play a key role? What uncertainties may compromise an individual’s retirement? How do you manage risk? What are investment risks? (book and lecture)
12. Preparing for retirement: What is common stock? Blue chip stock? Preferred stock? A bond? A mutual fund? How do you invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds? What is a prospectus?
How do you purchase stocks? What is a DRIP? What is the difference between a speculator and an investor? What information sources are available? What is a “point”? A “load” and noload” fund? What is an expense ration?
(lecture)
13. Preparing for retirement: How does compounding interest affect your retirement plans? How do taxes affect savings? (lecture)
14.
15.
Preparing for retirement: What is the purpose of insurance? Under what conditions do people need insurance? What are the differences between term, whole life, and universal insurance? (lecture)
Preparing for retirement: What are the steps to being a millionaire by age 67? Why should you start saving now for retirement? How can you plan? What information sources are available?
(lecture)
5.
6.
1. Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 16
(book, p. 400)
2. What is the sociological approach to stratification? Give examples of how groups are stratified.
What happens when a full system of stratification is in place? (book)
3. Describe how the theory of cumulative disadvantage is used to analyze stratification systems among the aged. (book and lecture)
4. Describe the relationship between income, poverty, and age. What are the differences by race?
How does the theory of cumulative disadvantage apply to income inequalities in old age? (book and lecture)
How is gender inequality in old age tied to a sex based division of labor? (book and lecture)
How do low wages and taking time out of the labor force to care for children or elderly have long term, negative effects on Social Security benefits? What might be done to reduce gender disparity in Social Security benefits? (book)
7. What is a spouse benefit, dual entitlement, and a survivor’s benefit? What family type do these benefits correspond to? Is this approach out-moded? Why or why not? How does divorce affect benefits? (book)
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8. Does the Supplemental Security Income program meet its objectives of alleviating poverty? Why or why not? What alternatives are other nations employing? Are these successful? (book)
9.
1.
2.
3.
What gender related factors penalize women in terms of access to an employer compensation benefit coverage?
(book)
10. How did gender limit access to an employers pension survivor’s benefits? What law changed this, and how did it do so? What group of workers remain untouched by this law? What is the effect?
(book)
11.
12.
In what ways are the categories of race and ethnicity socially constructed? (book)
How has a lifetime of cumulative disadvantage impacted retirement benefits for African American workers? Use racial discrimination in lending practices to illustrate your point. (book and lecture)
13. What does Hispanic mean? Which Hispanic group is the most disadvantaged? How do irregular work patterns translate into post-retirement benefits and pensions? (book)
14. How have Asian Americans fared financially, when compared with other minority groups? What are some reasons for this? (book)
15. What is the plight of the American Indian? How do the Native American elderly fare compared with younger Native Americans? What government intervention has increased the likelihood of a longer, healthier old age? Is it enough? (book)
.
Define each of the “key terms” for Chapter 17 (book, p. 424)
How do race, class, gender, and age impact voter turnout? (book and lecture)
4.
Compare the age related registration and voting rates. What is the difficulty in separating age, period, and cohort effects? (book)
Are the elderly the political powerhouse politicians and the media have made them out to be?
Give reasons why this may be true and why it may not be true. Do the elderly engage in blocvoting? Explain. (book and lecture)
5. What is rational choice theory and symbolic politics theory? Which one appears to be a more accurate depiction of the aged political agenda? Explain. (book)
6. Why are ‘American politicians particularly susceptible to special interests’? Explain the difference between candidate and party centered politics. When did the political climate change from one to the other? (book)
7. What is the gray lobby? What historical events helped to create and expand its influence? How effective is it? (book and lecture)
8. What is the AARP? In what ways is it a political organization? How is it different from the other three major organizations representing older people? (book and lecture)
9. What are social movements? How do they differ from interest groups? How likely are the elderly to be a part of a social movement? What are the two exceptions in the past century? Are the elderly successful when they participate in social movements? (book and lecture)
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11.
12.
13.
10. What are the problems older people face when they get involved in politics? How involved are older people in politics? Give examples. Should there be an age limit on politicians? Who are the gray panthers? Do they have any political clout? (book and lecture)
What is generational equity? Is there a trade off between spending on the elderly and spending on children? Is generational conflict likely in the future? (book)
What is the entitlement crisis? What does it convey about federal spending? How valid are these concerns? Use facts or figures to support your claim. (book)
What is the major idea behind the “ownership society?”
(book)
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