The Time of Our Lives: Recognizing the Contributions of Mannheim, Neugarten, and Riley to the Study of Aging

Time is central to the study of aging, but multiple dimensions of time, especially its subjective sense, merit more systematic attention in gerontology. This essay honors the intellectual legacy of Karl Mannheim, Bernice Neugarten, Matilda Riley, and others for drawing attention to the social dimensions of time relevant for the scientific study of aging. I summarize major contributions of these social scientists for the study of aging and note points of overlap and distinction. Although their writings have led gerontologists to think more systematically about life course timing and trajectories, there is relatively little empirical research on temporal perceptions in such trajectories and the interplay of objective and subjective elements of time.