According to social learning theory, social behavior is shaped by the stimuli derived from one's behavior and by imitation of others' behavior. Social bonding theory holds that deviance results when a person's bond to society is weakened or broken such that there is less incentive to conform to social norms. Anomie or strain theory holds that the gap between culturally induced success goals and the acceptable means to achieve these goals influences persons to deviate from legitimate norms for achieving success. The concepts and propositions of the aforementioned theories are sufficiently abstract not to be age-specific, and there are enough commonalities between adolescence and old age that these perspectives hold promise in accounting for substance abuse, crime, and milder forms of deviance among the elderly. Some conceptual and measurement modifications must be made, however, when the theories are applied to the elderly. The authors have modified social learning and social bonding theories and tested them on alcohol behavior among the elderly. The findings are similar to those of tests of the theories with adolescent substance abuse. 2 notes.