Projections of aging: impact of generational differences and the aging process on perceptions of adults.
In the domain of personality, a variety of stereotypes about old age are found. Unfortunately, the methodologies of previous studies have not dealt with a potential confound as to whether attitudes are a function of the aging process or of perceptions of generations. The present study was designed as a first step toward distinguishing between these possibilities. Young adults rated one target generation (i.e., today's 22-, 41-, or 69-year-olds) at one age period (i.e., as 22-, 41-, or 69-year-olds) on a series of personality attributes. Results demonstrated that attitudes (i.e., perceptions of personality) varied more often as a function of target generation, reflecting a general tendency for young adults to view other generations in a different fashion from the way they view their own. Overall, attitudes toward the older generation of age period were more positive than negative.
Department of Psychology, University of Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510-4596, USA. slotterbaccl@tiger.uofs.edu
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D013240:Stereotyping