Social Gerontology Today: An Introduction Book

Part I: Understanding Aging as a Social Process
Chapter 1: The Emergence of Gerontology
The Social Construction of Age Gerontology as a Field of Study Research for Whom?
Chapter 2: Doing Social Gerontology Research
The Logic of Scientific Inquiry Building Blocks of Science Types of Research Studies Basic Statistics: Crunching the Numbers Putting It All Together: Steps in Gerontological Research
Chapter 3: Demography, Population, and Housing: The Elderly Today and Tomorrow
Understanding Population Changes and Aging The Demographic Transition Characteristics of the Older Population Living Arrangements
Chapter 4: Social Perspectives on Aging
Was There a "Golden Age" for the Elderly?
Approaches to the Study of Aging Theoretical Shifts
Part II: Individuals and Aging
Chapter 5: Biological Perspectives
Biological Lifespan and Life Expectancy Physiological Changes and Health Illness and Recovery
Chapter 6: Personality and Cognition
Adult Socialization Self-Concept and Self-Esteem Foundational Models of Personality and Development The Discovery of Midlife and Beyond Life Review in Late Life The Seasons of Life Lead to Anxiety and Loss Cognition Cognitive Changes Processes of "Successful Aging" Revisited The Search for New Directions
Chapter 7: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Views of Mental Disorders Mental Disorders in Old Age Dementia Alzheimer's Disease Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Mental Health
Part III: Aging in Society
Chapter 8: Family Relationships and Social Bonds
Family Ties and Patterns The Families of the Now-Old Social Supports
Chapter 9: Sexuality and Intimacy
Sexual Scripts Stereotypes About Sexuality Sexual Activities and Responsiveness Sexual Behavior Love and Intimacy
Chapter 10: Work, Retirement, and Leisure
Labor Force Participation Retirement Sources of Retirement Pensions: Social Security and Private Pensions Leisure and Retirement Activities Labor Force Participation and Retirement in the Future
Chapter 11: Economic Security, Public Policy, and Politics
Income and Expenditures in Later Life Expenditures: Older People as Consumers Poverty and the Distribution of Income in Later Life The Politics of Aging Major Legislation Affecting Elders' Health and Economic Well-Being A Tradition of Political Elders
Chapter 12: Elders in the Health Care System
Who Pays for Health Care?
Patterns of Health Care Utilization Long-Term Care Health Care Providers and the Elderly
Chapter 13: Death, Dying, and Bereavement
Twentieth-Century Mortality Trends Is There a "Right To Die"?
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Bereavement and Grief Widowhood
Part IV: Afterword
The Elderly of Tomorrow, Stephen J. Cutler