VIOLENCE AS THREAT IN OLD-AGE - ARGUMENTS FOR A SOCIAL-SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE

In the paper presented gerontological and criminological aspects are c ombined and the necessity of a geronto victimology is claimed. It is a rgued that threat by violence and criminality is a specific challenge for older adults. Older people are threatened by violence in a differe nt way compared with younger ones, they suffer more from the violence experienced, and they cope differently with this kind of stress. With respect to the so-called ''victimization-fear-paradox'' the need for a n interdisciplinary approach is demonstrated. The discussion of differ ent forms of violence against the elderly in the context of care leads to a plea for an extended conceptualization of violence. In closing, possibilities of intervention and perspectives for further research ar e discussed.