Developmental Idealism and Aging

Developmental idealism is a set of ideas about how societies, families, and individual rights change over time. The purpose of developmental idealism studies is to evaluate the extent to which these ideas have spread around the world and influenced a wide range of phenomena including family and demographic values and behavior. Thornton and his collaborators have projects underway in many countries around the world, including Argentina, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, United States, and Vietnam.

The purpose of the Developmental Idealism and Aging Network is to study developmental idealism and its effects on aging and intergenerational relationships. Network members are interested in studying ideational influences on living arrangements, old age support, and intergenerational exchanges across the life course, create and test questionnaires and protocols that will be appropriate for measuring developmental idealism.