Abstract
This article seeks, with help of social identification theory and social dominance theory to highlight prejudice and discrimination against the elderly. Central in discussion is the disconsolate perspective of elderly that is often presented in our society. These theoretical approaches explain in different ways prejudice and discrimination with emphasis respectively on, «in group favouritism» and «legitimizing» within the existing society. In light of theory, discussion with actual examples from earlier research finds. The theories vary as well as deepen each other regarding human need for group belonging identity, but separate sharply from each other in regard to cause explanation and understanding of prejudice and discrimination, especially within an institution character. In order to prevent prejudice and discrimination it is necessary to be conscious of our own attitudes towards the set values concerning the elderly and aging. Such a process of increasing awareness can make people, for instance within health organization work and work of caring nature to ask, and perhaps to keep aloof from group categorization which disfavour the elderly in the light of productivity, effectiveness and youth. A step in this increasing awareness may be, from personal as well as social considerations, to point out a more positive and optimistic view of the elderly and aging than the dominating «misery perspective» up to this date has represented.