Social identity in later life: a situational approach to understanding old age stigma.
Social identity is a product of emergent definitional processes occurring in socially defined situations. This article presents a situational approach to understanding an aspect of social identity in later life-the social stigma of old age. Social stigma is conceptualized as an attribute which is perceived to be discrediting, incongruent with expectations, and non-pivotal in regard to the cluster of attributes associated with a specific social category. A typology of situations, based on their potential for producing the stigmatization of old age, is presented. Additionally, stigmatization in these situations is influenced by the following: commitment and legitimation, generational contacts, performance norms, and gender. Implications of a situational approach to the investigation of old age are discussed.
Luken
P C
PC
Center on Aging Studies, University of Missouri, Kansas City.
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012919:Social Behavior; D012933:Social Identification; D013240:Stereotyping