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Biosocial Predictors of Older Americans' Political Participation1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2016

Steven A. Peterson
Steven A. Peterson*
Affiliation:
Division of Social Sciences, Alfred University, Alfred, New York 14802
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Extract

One consequence of aging is diminished physical powers. In some cases, mental capabilities deteriorate, with concomitant rigidity of thought, impairment of intellect, emotional instability, and denial of disability (e.g., Post, 1980). Some have speculated that biological factors may have an effect on the political behavior of the elderly (see, e.g., G. Schubert, 1983). Campbell, Converse, Miller, and Stokes (1960:262) note that decline of voter turnout with age is “… undoubtedly due to infirmities that make trips to the polling place more difficult.” Hudson and Binstock (1976:370) suggest that lowered participation “… may be interpreted in terms of physical declines….” Light (1981:2343) hypothesizes that “Health and mobility problems apparently prevent the elderly from topping the middle-aged in turnout.” On the other hand, Wolfinger and Rosenstone (1980) find that with the introduction of controls for length of residence, income, education, and gender, the political effects of aging seem to disappear. However, no direct tests of the physical effects of aging upon the political orientations and behavior of the aged have appeared.

Type
Research in Progress
Information
Politics and the Life Sciences , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , February 1987 , pp. 246 - 251
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Politics and the Life Sciences 

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