When self-interest and age sterotypes collide: elders opposing increased funds for programs benefiting themselves.
Elders tend to be portrayed by the media as selfishly promoting programs that benefit the old. We predicted, however, that older individuals who choose positive stereotypes about the young over positive stereotypes about the old would oppose an increase in spending on these programs. By analyzing the responses of 1656 individuals, we found: (1) older participants were more likely than younger participants to oppose increased funding of Social Security, Meals on Wheels, and Medicare; and (2) this opposition to increased funding for Social Security and Meals on Wheels was predicted by a stereotype of aging based on a more favorable perception of the capabilities of the young than of the old. Our findings suggest that elders' evaluation of programs that benefit their age group may be more influenced by stereotypes internalized decades earlier than by their current group interests.
Levy
Becca R
BR
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. becca.levy@yale.edu
Schlesinger
Mark J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005522:Food Services / Q000191:economics; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics; D013240:Stereotyping; D014481:United States