Benevolent and Hostile Ageism: Predictors, Mediators and Outcomes

这项研究采用了生物认知的角度来考虑晚年的结果取决于其他人的年龄相关的刻板印象和老年人对其他人的年龄刻板印象的反应。 年龄刻板印象本质上往往是“仁慈的”;也就是说，它包括老年人像孩子一样需要保护的形象。 这种类型的反应--尽管是善意的--贬低了老年人的能力，没有认识到随着年龄的增长也会带来的优势。 该项目的具体目标是确定（1）助长或限制对老年人的年龄定型观念的背景和个体差异，（2）导致老年人或多或少容易受到（年龄歧视）定型观念威胁的背景和个体差异，以及（3）这些过程的介质，特别关注与权力或从属关系相关的激素和心血管反应。 有几个问题指导这项研究。 首先，当一项任务被设定为一个衡量“记忆”和一个衡量“智慧”的标准时，老年人在衡量能力方面是否表现出差异。“第二，那些侮辱老年人的人和那些更有可能对他们表示尊重的人之间的差异的基础是什么？ 第三，年轻人的年龄偏见（以及由此产生的沟通方式中的屈尊俯就）如何影响老年人的实际表现？ 这项工作的结果将表明年龄陈规定型观念的有害影响以及可以预防的方法。 最终，这项研究将提供在一般教育计划中有用的信息，以及为老年人提供专业服务的人。

This research employs a bio-cognitive perspective to consider the ways in which late life outcomes depend on other people's age-related stereotypes and older adults' responses to others' age stereotypes. Age stereotyping is often "benevolent" in nature; that is, it includes an image of older adults as child-like and in need of protection. This type of reaction -- although well-meaning -- demeans the competence of older adults and fails to recognize the strengths that also come with aging. The specific objectives of the project are to determine (1) the contexts and individual differences that either foster or limit age stereotyping of older adults, (2) the contexts and individual differences among older adults that lead them to be more or less vulnerable to (ageist) stereotype threat, and (3) the mediators of these processes with a particular attention to hormonal and cardiovascular responses associated with power or subordination. Several questions guide this research. First, do older adults show differences in measured competence when a task is posed as a measure of "memory" versus a measure of "wisdom." Second, what is the basis of the differences between those who stigmatize older adults and those more likely to show respect for them? Third, how does age bias among younger adults (and resultant condescension in their style of communication) operate to influence the actual performance of older adults? Findings from this work will demonstrate both the harmful effects of age stereotyping and the ways in which it can be prevented. Ultimately, this research will provide information that is useful within general educational programs, as well as for those who provide professional services to older adults.