ABSTRACT
Most of the time, we strongly and unquestioningly value the modern, the technologically advanced, the new, and the youthful to the detriment of things we deem as old fashioned, outdated and worn out. There are exceptions to this rule. For example, if furniture, wine, and people last long enough, they can gain great value as they beat the odds to become antiques and octogenarians. At the same time, we often assume the naiveté and lack of wisdom of those who are young. Assumptions such as these are strongly linked to chronological age and are deeply embedded in our social collective psyches; we bring them into every interaction we have with those who are much younger or older than ourselves. Intergenerational interactions can be as routine as any other interaction, or can be markedly different from those interactions that we have with peers. For example, there may be certain topics we avoid discussing with people much older or much younger than ourselves. Why should intergenerational communication be any different from peer communication? One way of answering this question is to look at various theories for an explanation. This is the focus of our first chapter.
