Sociology › Section M · Aging and the elderly › Topic M.4
Theoretical perspectives on aging
Is it natural for older people to step back from society, or should they stay busy? Do they lose status because of who they are or because of how society is organised? Each sociological perspective answers differently, and each answer has critics.
In this topic
- Three lenses on later life
- Disengagement theory
- Activity theory and continuity theory
- Conflict and modernization theory
- Age stratification theory
- Exchange theory
- Interactionist theories
- Worked example: one retiree, three lenses
- Worked example: matching statements to theories
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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