Benevolent and Hostile Ageism: Predictors, Mediators and Outcomes

本研究采用生物认知的观点来考虑晚年生活结果如何取决于他人与年龄相关的刻板印象以及老年人对他人年龄刻板印象的反应。年龄刻板印象在本质上往往是“仁慈的”；也就是说，它包含了老年人像孩子一样需要保护的形象。这种反应虽然是善意的，但却贬低了老年人的能力，也没有认识到随着年龄增长而来的优势。该项目的具体目标是确定(1)促进或限制老年人年龄刻板印象的环境和个体差异，(2)导致老年人或多或少容易受到（年龄歧视）刻板印象威胁的环境和个体差异，以及(3)这些过程的中介，特别关注与权力或从属相关的激素和心血管反应。有几个问题指导着这项研究。首先，当一项任务被用来衡量“记忆”和“智慧”时，老年人在衡量能力上是否存在差异？其次，那些侮辱老年人的人和那些更有可能尊重老年人的人之间的差异是基于什么？第三，年轻人的年龄偏见（以及由此产生的居高临下的沟通方式）是如何影响老年人的实际表现的？这项工作的结果将证明年龄刻板印象的有害影响以及预防这种影响的方法。最终，这项研究将为普通教育项目提供有用的信息，也为那些为老年人提供专业服务的人提供有用的信息。

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.