Glossary of Key Concepts

A Active agents: see human agency. Active fathering: the ‘hands on’ involvement by fathers in the day-to-day care of their children. Adaptation view: see classic demographic transition theory. Agency: see human agency. Agnatic systems: see patrilineal system. Agrarian societies: societies that are characterized by sedentary agriculture that is productive enough to support classes of people who are not directly involved in subsistence production, such as political rulers, priests, soldiers and craftsmen. Alliance: see rules of alliance. Ambivalence/ambivalent relationship: intergenerational relationship in which roles and boundaries have to be constantly negotiated, resulting in mixed feelings and contradictory expectations. Ascending familialism: intergenerational relationships characterized by the flow of resources from younger to older generations, for example from young adults towards their elderly parents.