Introduction

This special issue highlights how social psychology can further the understanding of important social, health, interpersonal, and intergenerational issues facing people as they age. This issue has three goals: to generate more interest in aging as an area of study for social psychologists by showcasing researchers who are currently integrating basic social psychological research with issues in aging and lifespan development; to challenge readers to think about how their research programs can interconnect with issues in aging; and to demonstrate how social psychological processes have direct application to many of the issues facing people as they age.