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Abstract

In a study of perceptions concerning the elderly, children were presented with photographs depicting persons in various stages of the life cycle: preschooler, elementary schooler, young adult, middle-aged adult, and elderly adult. Children rank-ordered the photographs providing measures of accuracy of age perception, stereotyping of the elderly, and attitudes toward social interaction with the elderly. It was found that youngsters can perceive age differences and apply the concept of age in ways that approximate adults' perceptions. They possess negative stereotypes of the elderly and express both favorable and unfavorable reactions about interacting with them. With one exception, the aged were the least preferred among the adult age groups.

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Stereotyping of the Elderly

Abstract

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