Final answer:
The conflict perspective in sociology analyzes how the elderly may face competition and conflict with younger generations for resources and power, reflecting societal divisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sociological perspective that views the treatment of older people as reflective of the many divisions in our society is the conflict perspective. This perspective examines how society is inherently unstable and how social groups, including the elderly, compete with others for power and scarce resources. Age stratification, specifically, is a theory within the conflict perspective that highlights how society may be stratified by age, similar to race, class, and gender, leading to varying access to social resources and power for different age groups.
Age serves as a basis of social control, and behavioral norms dictate appropriate behavior for each age stratum. The elderly, according to the conflict perspective, may struggle with younger members of society for a share of resources, which can sometimes lead to ageism and discrimination.