Section III: Social and Behavioural Gerontology

Objectives

Social and behavioural gerontology considers age and ageing to be part of lifelong development, which is embedded in social relationships and influenced by societal circumstances. A distinction is made between personal and contextual factors which promote continuity or change. Personal characteristics include lifestyle, cognitive abilities, health, and life experiences. Contextual characteristics include the physical and social environment, material resources, societal views on ageing, and socio-political conditions.

The ageing process is influenced by historical and cultural factors. Contributions from disciplines that address these matters are therefore indispensable.

Our main areas of research are as follows:

• Analysis of the diverse forms of ageing and their influencing factors. This objective is pursued in interdisciplinary projects.
• Investigations into the continuity and discontinuity of experience and behaviour throughout the life course, as well as abilities in various functional areas.
• Analysis of the resources and risks of aging. These are examined both at the individual and societal level, as well as in interpersonal interaction, since individual development opportunities in old age and specific vulnerabilities of older people in certain life situations are still not sufficiently recognized by society today.
• Prevention and intervention are further key areas of our work, involving approaches at the individual level (e.g., promoting life satisfaction), in the immediate environment (e.g., promoting social relationships), and in the physical environment (improving housing, working conditions, and infrastructure).

The section places great value on cooperation between researchers from different disciplines and thus on interdisciplinary research. We strive to transfer knowledge between basic and application-oriented issues. This interdisciplinary exchange also takes place through cooperation with other sections of the DGGG and through exchanges with other specialist societies.

Interdisciplinary committees

In addition to conferences, we offer opportunities for in-depth exchange in interdisciplinary committees. Members of our section are currently involved in the following interdisciplinary committees:

• Expert Committee on Gerontological Education and Training
• Expert Committee on Critical Gerontology
• Expert Committee on Age and Technology

Activities

The section is actively involved in organizing the annual conferences of the German Society for Geriatrics and Gerontology (including interdisciplinary symposia) and hosts specialist conferences of the section with the aim of advancing the scientific development of gerontology. It also supports exchange and networking between established researchers and young scientists. Members of Section III are mainly psychologists and sociologists. One of the objectives is to attract more researchers from other disciplines to become actively involved, for example, business administration and economics, health and nursing sciences, education, history, political science, and philosophy.