* All chapters conclude with "Summary", "Discussion Questions", "Suggested Reading", and Glossary of Terms" sections. Preface. 1. Aging Today. Introduction. Why Study Aging? Ageism. Sources of Ageism. The Media as a Source of Ageism.
Lack of Knowledge as a Source of Ageism. Some Facts on Aging Today. Victimization by Fraud. Effects of Victimization. Fear of Crime. Responses to Ageism. The Media. The Senior Market: A New Image of Aging.
The Ageless Self: Another Form of Ageism. Education Programs. Intergenerational Programs. Legislation and Social Action. Aging Today. Conclusion. 2. Theories and Methods.
Introduction. The Study of Aging: Past and Present. Early Developments in Research. Gerontology Research Today. Is Gerontology a Discipline? Theories of Aging. Two Levels of Theories. Three Theoretical Perspectives. Interactionist Perspective.
Critique of the Interactionist Perspective. Functionalist Perspective. Age Stratification Theory: An Example of the Functionalist Perspective. Critique of the Functionalist Perspective. Conflict Perspective. Critique of the Conflict Perspective. Research Issues and Methods. Experimental Designs.
Cross-sectional Designs. Longitudinal Designs. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods. The Humanities. Ethical Issues in Research. Research Applications. Funding Gerontology Research. The Future of Gerontological Theory and Methods.
Conclusion. 3. Aging at Other Times, in Other Places. Introduction. Four Types of Societies. Hunting and Gathering. Agricultural Society. Agricultural America in the Past.
Inequality in Old Age in Early American. Society. Modern Industrial Society. Industrialization. Urbanization. The Demographic Transition. Modernization Theory. Postindustrial Society: The United States Today.
The Challenge of Population Aging. The Developed Nations. The Developing Nations. The Future of Aging in Developing Nations. Conclusion. 4. Demography. Introduction.
The Demographics of Population Aging. Increased Numbers of Older People. Increased Median Age of the Population. Increased Proportion of Older People. Measuring Trends. The Causes of Population Change. Migration. Death Rates.
Birth Rates. The Challenges of an Aging Population. The Aging of the Older Population. Ethnic and Racial Variations. Regional Distribution. Interstate Migration. Amenity Migration. Urban-Rural Distribution.
Changes in the Sex Ratio. The Impact of Population Aging. Dependency Ratios. Critique of Dependency Ratios. Conclusion. 5. Personal Health and Well-Being. Introduction.
Biological Aging. Theories of Biological Aging. Programmed Theories. Programmed Senescence. Endocrine and Immunological Theory. Error Theories. Somatic Mutation Theory. Crosslinking Theory.
Free Radicals Theory. Other Theories. The Effects of Aging on Body Systems. Musculoskeletal.