ABSTRACT

Individuals of all ages interact with one another, and their interactions have significance throughout their lives. This distinctive volume acknowledges the importance of these interactions and provides a life-span developmental view of communication and aging, attempting to capture the many similarities and changes that occur in people's lives as they age. The authors move the study of intergenerational contact closer to the actual participants, examining what happens within intergenerational interactions and how people evaluate their intergenerational experiences. The volume concentrates on the micro-context of the intergenerational interaction and the cognitions, language, and relationship behaviors related to intergenerational communication across the life span.

The volume employs the perspective that the understanding of human behavior across the life span is enhanced by studying communicative behavior in intergenerational interaction. The authors integrate research from multiple disciplines concerned with intergenerational communication, which is framed by several unique theoretical perspectives drawn from the communication discipline. As a resource for the study of intergenerational communication across the life span, this monograph offers important insights to scholars, students, and all who are involved in intergenerational communication.

part 1|147 pages

Social, Psychological, and Developmental Foundations

chapter 2|20 pages

Intergenerational Contexts and Contact

chapter 3|19 pages

Social Cognitive Contributions

Intergenerational Attitudes and Stereotypes

chapter 4|20 pages

Language, Cognition, and Age

chapter 5|23 pages

Intergenerational Language Strategies

Underaccommodation

chapter 6|19 pages

Intergenerational Language Strategies

Overaccommodation

chapter 7|21 pages

Generational Identity and Age Identity

part 2|73 pages

Intergenerational Relationship Communication

chapter 8|17 pages

Adult Child–Elderly Parent Relationship

chapter 9|16 pages

The Grandparent–Grandchild Relationship

chapter 10|16 pages

Sandwiched Communication

part 3|61 pages

Macrosocietal Perspectives

chapter |15 pages

Epilogue