No abstract

The current literature on aging and ageism is summarized in support of a theoretical perspective that includes both the biological and the psychosocial components of these processes. Conceptual and methodological problems are identified in models that rely on a deficit approach to aging. We suggest that the biased responses of others foster older adults' stress‐related emotional and hormonal responses—responses that may effectively reduce their social and cognitive competence. This negative feedback process ultimately acts in a stereotype‐maintaining fashion. Implications are drawn for possible changes in social policy and institutional practices that may reduce or prevent the harmful effects of ageism. Examples are given of existing policies and practices that limit the lives of older adults (in the guise of protection), along with newly instituted policies and practices (including those at an international level) that place the welfare of older adults in the context of life course issues shared by all.

No abstract

Our siblings can be our closest allies and yet are often our first rivals. What factors influence the nature of these relationships, and are there certain aspects that make our siblings more likely to be a source of conflict rather than solidarity? From an adaptationist perspective, sibling conflict should vary in frequency and intensity as a function of degree of relatedness. For example, conflict should be most frequent and intense between non-biological and step-siblings while conflict between full biological siblings should be least frequent and intense with half-sibling conflict being of an intermediate degree. This study examines levels of sibling conflict as a function of sex of participant, sex of sibling, degree of relatedness, and length of co-residence as well as self-reported sources of conflict. Results indicate that genetic relatedness does influence the frequency and intensity of conflict, though the most intense conflict was between non-biological siblings and the least was between half-siblings.

No abstract