Synonyms
Definition
Researchers distinguish between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Stereotypes are defined as the mental representations people have about different social groups. Stereotypes have been described as “beliefs and opinions about the characteristics, attributes, and behaviors of members of various groups” (Whitley and Kite 2006, p. 6). In contrast, prejudice is depicted as the feelings people have toward different social groups. Prejudice is “an attitude directed toward people because they are members of a specific social group” (Whitley and Kite 2006, p. 7). Discrimination is conceived of as the behavior people enact toward members of different social groups. It has been defined as “treating people differently from others based primarily on membership in a social group” (Whitley and Kite 2006, p. 8). Note that stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination can be either positive or negative in valence, as people may have positive or...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Blackstone, A. (2013). Harassment of older adults in the workplace. In P. Brownell & J. J. Kelley (Eds.), Ageism and mistreatment of older workers: Current reality, future solutions (pp. 31–47). New York: Springer.
Bugental, D. B., & Hehman, J. A. (2007). Ageism: A review of research and policy implications. Social Issues and Policy Review, 1(1), 173–216.
Butler, R. N. (1969). Age-ism: Another form of bigotry. Gerontologist, 9, 243–246.
Carmel, S., Cwikel, J., & Galinsky, D. (1992). Changes in knowledge, attitudes, and work preferences following courses in gerontology among medical, nursing, and social work students. Educational Gerontology, 18(4), 329–342.
Chasteen, A. L., Kang, S. K., & Remedios, J. D. (2011). Aging and stereotype threat: Development, process, and interventions. In M. Inzlicht & T. Schmader (Eds.), Stereotype threat: Theory, process, and application (pp. 202–216). New York: Oxford University Press.
Cuddy, A. J. C., Fiske, S. T., & Glick, P. (2008). Warmth and competence as universal dimensions of social perception: The Stereotype Content Model and the BIAS Map. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 40, pp. 61–149). New York, NY: Academic Press.
Geraci, L., & Miller, T. M. (2013). Improving older adults’ memory performance using prior task success. Psychology and Aging, 28, 340–345.
Hess, T. M. (2006). Attitudes toward aging and their effects on behavior. In J. E. Birren & K. W. Schaire (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of ageing (6th ed., pp. 379–40). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Hummert, M. L. (2011). Age stereotypes and aging. In K. W. Schaie & S. L. Willis (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of aging (pp. 249–262). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Kite, M. E., Stockdale, G. D., Whitley, B. E., Jr., & Johnson, B. T. (2005). Attitudes toward younger and older adults: An updated meta-analytic review. Journal of Social Issues, 61, 241–266.
Kornadt, A. E., & Rothermund, K. (2014). Views on aging. In M. Diehl & H.-W. Wahl (Eds.), Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics (Vol. 35, pp. 99–120). New York: Springer.
Levy, B. (2009). Stereotype embodiment: A psychosocial approach to aging. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(6), 332–336.
Levy, B. R., Pilver, C., Chung, P. H., & Slade, M. D. (2014). Subliminal strengthening: Improving older individuals’ physical function over time with an implicit-age-stereotype intervention. Psychological Science, 25(12), 2127–2135.
Neugarten, B. L. (1974). Age groups in American society and the rise of the young-old. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 415, 187–198.
North, M. S., & Fiske, S. T. (2012). An inconvenienced youth? Ageism and its potential intergenerational roots. Psychological Bulletin, 138(5), 982–997.
Palmore, E. B. (2004). Research note: Ageism in Canada and the United States. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 19, 41–46.
Palmore, E. B., Branch, L., & Harris, D. K. (2005). Encyclopedia of ageism. New York: Haworth Press.
Plaks, J. E., & Chasteen, A. L. (2013). Entity versus incremental theories predict older adults’ memory performance. Psychology and Aging, 28, 948–957.
Steele, C. M. (1997). A threat in the air: How stereotypes shape intellectual identity and performance. American Psychologist, 52(6), 613–629.
Steele, C. M., Spencer, S. J., & Aronson, J. (2002). Contending with group image: The psychology of stereotype and social identity threat. In M. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 34, pp. 379–440). New York: Academic.
Whitley, B., Jr., & Kite, M. E. (2006). The psychology of prejudice and discrimination. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore
About this entry
Cite this entry
Chasteen, A.L., Cary, L.A., Iankilevitch, M. (2015). Age Stereotyping and Discrimination. In: Pachana, N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_4-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_4-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Online ISBN: 978-981-287-080-3
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences