Understanding Stereotypes of Aging

1. Chapter 2 Stereotypes and Images

2. Stereotypes of Aging

3. Stereotypes Generalized beliefs or opinions based on individual experiences, often produced by irrational thinking Fulfill a need to structure experience through a mental shortcut Allows us to categorize people quickly, but not always accurately Can lead to fear, prejudice, hate, and mistreatment

4. Negative Aging Stereotypes • Illness • Impotency • Ugliness • Mental decline • Uselessness • Isolation • Poverty • Depression (grouchy, cranky, etc.)

5. 2 Kinds of Negativism • Biomedicalization of aging focusing only on the sick • The belief that problems associated with aging are biological rather than social and behavioral • Compassionate stereotyping • Portraying all older adults as disadvantaged, in need of and deserving assistance These are demeaning, and limit older adults’ potential

6. Positive Aging Stereotypes Golden Agers (lively, adventurous, active, sociable, witty, independent, well-informed, successful, well-traveled) Perfect Grandparents (kind, loving, family-oriented, generous, supportive, wise) While positive, these are unrealistic to expect of all older adults

7. Media Influences Older people continue to be invisible or negatively portrayed. Male actors are often considerably older than their love interests. Older adults spend more time watching television than all other age groups, yet are underrepresented on television programs.

8. Who is Old?

9. Defining “Old” Aging is a gradual process. Individuals age differently. Age cohorts experience different historical events. Cosmetic changes are more common than they have been in the past.

10. Types of Old Young-old: 65-74, vigorous, fit, and healthy (able elderly) Old-old or Mid-old: 75-84 some chronic conditions, but still mostly independent Oldest-old: 85 and older more likely to be frail and need assistance Centenarians: Those over 100 years old, who tend to be hardy

11. Legal Definition of Old An old age pension was established in Germany in the 1890s for those few citizens 65 and older. In 1935 the U.S. passed the Social Security Act. Sixty-five was again the age used and became commonly used by most companies and governments. Now it is a rather arbitrary benchmark of old age with increasing longevity

12. The Social Construction of Aging • Self-concept • The way in which a person sees him or herself • How individuals define themselves to themselves • The social construction of self • The way we interpret events in our lives is influenced by both how we are treated and our internalization of society’s categorizations of us • We internalize phrases like “act your age”, or “old enough to know better”

13. Phenomenology A methodology in which the meaning of an event is defined by the person experiencing the event This prevents imposing preconceived ideas on older adults’ interpretations of their lives Narrative Gerontology is used to study possible selves (who we might become).

14. Studies of Children’s Attitudes Children develop stereotypes about elders at an early age. By age 3 they have ageist language, and by age 5 have adopted ageist attitudes They hear ageist messages from many sources, including the media Attitudes are becoming less overtly negative, but still see aging as a time of physical, mental and social decline.

15. Changing Attitudes Attitudes can be changed through: • Discussions with peers. • Direct experiences. • Increased information or knowledge. Intergenerational programs pairing children and elders show decreases in ageist attitudes for up to 5 years

16. Studies of Young Adults’ Attitudes In general, college students demonstrate a complex range of attitudes. Evidence of both negative and compassionate stereotyping by young adults College students often take the biological view of decreasing abilities. Interaction with older adults decreases beliefs in ageist ideas

17. Explaining Stereotypes • Ageism develops and is reinforced across the lifespan. • Ageism is directed at both youth and older adults. • Ageism can be: • Institutional (Policies separate activities like school, work and retirement by age.) • Social (Age groups interact with peers.) • Spatial (Age groups are residentially segregated.)

18. Application — Identify the Type of Ageism Connie (75) spends much of her free time playing cards at the senior center. Irma and Ted (both 80) live in a condo in a retirement community. Celeste (78) thinks that she is too old to go back to school for a masters degree.

19. Historical and Cultural Explanations Language structures consciousness. Older adults retain more skills in social settings where they do not hear negative stereotypes. There are few positive age-specific words that refer to old people. Songs reflect attitudes, such as the Beatles lyrics: “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?”.

20. Cultural Lag Attitudes and cultural beliefs are slower to change than technology. We still approach aging with fear, resignation, and sadness even though life expectancy, health status, and financial status have improved for the elderly.

21. Social Forces: The Media • Media reflect and create society’s views. • Magazine articles report how to lie about age. • Movies and TV present unrealistic negative portrayals. • The Media Watch Task Force identified and protested TV programs that presented stereotypical portrayals.

22. Today in the Media Older actors play older characters, but seldom in leading roles. The Nielsen Television Index now collects information from those 55 and older. Older female news anchors are still rare. Television commonly uses a reversed stereotype of aging as a comedy gimmick (e.g. older characters in sexual or adventurous situations). Sexual performance-enhancing drugs are advertised as a way to stay young.

23. Advertising Strategies • Television advertising teaches us to fear the normative signs of aging • Advertisements sell us products and procedures to “turn back the hands of time” and “defy aging” • Products aimed at seniors focus on incontinence, loss of independence and financial crisis • Advertisers are devoting more commercial time to elders as their numbers and buying power increase.

24. Nonverbal Ageist Messages • Patronizing communication involves over-accommodation based on stereotyped expectations. • According to communication accommodation theory, people modify their speech and behavior based on their assessment of their communication partner. • Example: speaking loudly and slowly when addressing an older person

25. The Psychology of Prejudice Draws attention to the psychological causes of prejudice as opposed to social causes Someone with a positive self-concept may be less prone to believe the negative stereotypes of other groups.

26. Movies and Older Adults • Most moviegoers are teens or young adults • Younger audiences respond to action, adventure and (young) romance • Mature audiences prefer character and story development in films • Aging Baby Boomers may influence movie studios’ choices in near future

27. Psychological Theories to Explain Ageism • The authoritarian personality • Less educated, rigid, untrusting, insecure persons hold prejudices. • The frustration-aggression hypothesis • Those who are frustrated take it out in aggression toward others. • Selective perception • We see what we expect to see.

28. Breaking Negative Stereotypes Draw attention to people who have made significant contributions in their old age. Counter negative stereotypes with accurate information.

29. Consequences and Implications of Stereotypes

30. Negative Stereotyping Perpetuates ageism Results in polarization Results in segregation Affects professional objectivity Fosters fear of aging Stifles the potential of older people