College students are poised to take on important leadership roles in society, and as such, it is vital that they understand the interests and needs of people throughout the life course and that they do not harbor ageist believes that may play out in the policies they enact, the services they provide, or the products they create. Many college…

Since the 1950s in the USA and a bit later in Europe, researchers have started publishing results of systematic research on the learning of older adults. Some have also contributed to constructing theoretical definitions within this theme of research. The perception of older adults as potential learners is a widely shared paradigm. However, there…

In contemporary Western societies, the aging population poses new challenges both to the policies and to the support systems for older persons. In Portugal, where the phenomena have a major impact, a new professional profile, the gerontologist, has emerged. These professionals have an academic background that corresponds to the 1st cycle degree at…

This article investigates whether computer use for leisure could mediate or moderate the relations between age and cognitive functioning. Findings supported smaller age differences in measures of cognitive functioning for people who reported spending more hours using a computer. Because of the cross-sectional design of the study, two alternative…

This study surveys elementary and secondary teachers in Taiwan and compares the findings with other studies conducted in America and Japan. The objective is to explore differences among teachers in Taiwan, Japan, and the United States in terms of their knowledge of, and attitudes toward, aging and the implementation of aging education in schools.…

This paper describes and conceptualizes the meaning of lifelong learning from two cultural perspectives--East and West. It examines the different principles underpinning lifelong learning that explain why and how elders in the two cultures engage differently in continued learning. Finally, it discusses the cultural impact on elder learning by…

Animism (erroneously believing inanimate objects are alive) is present in older adults (McDonald & Stuart-Hamilton, 2000). However, it is unclear if animism arises in later life or middle age. The current study tested 34 middle-aged adults (mean age 48 years) on Piaget's animism task and found a significant level of animism. Strength of…

In this study, the effectiveness of an oral history assignment was assessed in a traditional gerontology class versus a distance education (DE) gerontology class. Attitudes toward older adults and the aging process were measured before and after students in the traditional (n = 29) and DE (n = 16) setting completed an oral history assignment.…

In an increasingly aging population, a number of adults are concerned about declines in their cognitive abilities. Online computer-based cognitive training programs have been proposed as an accessible means by which the elderly may improve their cognitive abilities; yet, more research is needed in order to assess the efficacy of these programs. In…

A semantic differential technique was used to compare the attitudes of 70 adolescents and 65 young adults toward the aged. The Instrumental-Ineffective dimension illustrated that the adolescent population demonstrated a more favorable attitude toward the aged than did the young adults. (Author)

Examined and analyzed the opinions and interests of physicians, registered nurses, and dentists on geriatrics, gerontology, and older people. Comparisons were made of the expressed interests and opinions between the three groups of practitioners. (Author)

Four preretirement education models were analyzed in terms of their effectiveness in contributing to behavioral, informational, and attitudinal change. A statistical methodology for assessing the effectiveness of short-term training programs is also presented. (Author)

Using 23 items from the Shneidman questionnaire, views of three groups of elderly persons concerning death and dying were examined and compared with views of a national sample of Psychology Today readers surveyed by Shneidman. The elderly group exhibited more traditional points of view than did the PT group. (Author)

Attitudinal information was collected from two groups to compare the attitudes of older adults and younger adults toward educational media. Results indicated no basic differences in attitudes toward educational media between the two groups. (Author)

A questionnaire concerning graduate offerings in psychology of aging was mailed to 238 departments of psychology throughout the United States. Of the 191 responses, 16 departments were found to offer a formal program of graduate study in gerontological psychology. Presented at the American Psychological Association meeting, Washington, September,…