Final answer:
When we refer to a person's age, we generally mean their chronological age, which is the number of years and months since a person was born. Chronological age is used for most legal and societal benchmarks, although it is recognized that aging encompasses biological, social, and psychological dimensions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we refer to a person's age, we usually mean chronological age, or how many years and months have elapsed since birth. Chronological age is the most straight-forward method of measuring age, reflecting the actual time a person has lived. It is distinct from other age-related concepts such as biological age, which refers to how old someone's body appears or functions; social age, based on societal norms and roles related to a person's age; and psychological age, which reflects how old a person feels mentally and emotionally.
Legally, age classifications such as childhood, adulthood, and old age are often based on chronological age. For instance, according to government standards, childhood spans from birth until the age of majority, adulthood is commonly marked beginning at eighteen years of age, and old age typically starts at sixty-five when individuals become eligible for certain social benefits.
Scholars note that aging involves more than just biological changes, but also one's attitudes and beliefs about the aging process. Therefore, chronological age is the age that most legal and societal benchmarks refer to, despite the broader dimensions of aging.