Final answer:
Age is a predictor of voter turnout, susceptibility to diseases, ageism, and changes in attitudes toward aging. It reflects both biological changes and social perceptions that individuals and societies have towards aging.
Step-by-step explanation:
Age can be a predictor of various aspects of human behavior and societal trends. One prominent example is voter turnout, where age correlates with political engagement and the likelihood of an individual casting a vote. In terms of health and wellbeing, age predicts susceptibility to diseases and common causes of death, as researchers have found distinct patterns in morbidity and mortality among different age groups. Furthermore, age can influence social dynamics, leading to ageism, which is prejudice and discrimination towards individuals based solely on age.
It's also worth noting that age affects people's attitudes toward aging, with many preferring to think of 'old age' as a distant concept. However, both biological factors (primary aging) and lifestyle factors (secondary aging) contribute to how individuals experience aging. Scholarly research, such as that by Donnellan & Lucas (2008) on the Big Five personality traits across the lifespan, provides evidence for age-related changes in psychology and behavior. Therefore, the concept of age is multidimensional, encompassing physical, psychological, and social changes throughout the lifespan.