Behavioral Gerontology

Description of Strategy

Behavioral gerontology is the application of behavioral principles to the problems of older adults. Though considerable work in behavioral gerontology has addressed basic research questions (e.g., the nature of dependency among nursing home residents, extent of new learning among Alzheimer's patients), most efforts in behavioral gerontology have focused on behavioral assessment, behavioral intervention, and a combination of the two. Behavioral gerontology began in the 1960s and early 1970s, with work by individuals such as Cautela, Hoyer, Lindsley, Risley, Baltes, and Pinkston. Though the same principles of behavior are applied to older adults as to younger adults and children, problems addressed with older adults are typically more complex and often unique to older adults. This is particularly the case with older ...