Age and its effect on perceptions of psychopathology.
Fifty young (M age = 27.2 years) and 50 older (M age = 66.1 years) laywomen read descriptions of a healthy woman and women with four types of psychopathology. One half of each age group read descriptions of a younger woman, and one half read identical descriptions of an older woman. Participants rated both the severity of the problem and reasons for their judgments. No support was obtained for the hypothesis that psychopathological symptoms are viewed as part of the "normal" aging process.
Hochman
L O
LO
Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130.
Storandt
M
M
Rosenberg
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012938:Social Perception