[Gerontological research in social and behavioral sciences in Germany since 1968 : Review, critical assessment and perspectives].

This article addresses the development of German social and behavioral aging research during the last 50 years based on four propositions: (a) the development and unfolding of social and behavioral aging research in the 1960s and 1970s was tedious. (b) During the 1980s and 1990s the significance of social and behavioral aging research grew considerably. (c) The last 20 years brought increasing and strong recognition of social and behavioral aging research. (d) Currently, social and behavioral aging research in Germany follows high and internationally established standards, and findings are published in internationally recognized journals. In a resume and outlook the structural aspects, future research topics, funding dynamics, and issues of the application of social and behavioral aging science are discussed.