This essay reviews over 40 extant research reports on attraction and aging. The review indicated that (a) perceived agreement in attitude tends to neutralize young adults' general perception of older adults as unattractive, (b) elders prefer to associate with middle-aged and older adults more than they desire to associate with younger adults, regardless of the relative physical attraction of the target individuals, and (c) elders' marital satisfaction appears to be related to perceived physical attractiveness of the husband, not the wife. The authors provide critique and analysis of the research methods employed in the reviewed studies. Avenues for further research are identified.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adams, G. R.
and T. L. Huston. 1975. "Social Perception of Middle-Aged Persons Varying in Physical Attractiveness."Developmental Psychology11:656-658.
2.
Bengtson, V.1971. "Inter-age Differences in Perception and the Generation Gap."Gerontologist11:85-90.
3.
Bengtson, V. L.
, E. B. Olander, and A. A. Haddad. 1976. "The `Generation Gap' and Aging Family Members: Toward a Conceptual Model." Pp. 237-263 in Time, Roles, and Self in Old Age, edited by J. F. Gubrium. New York: Human Sciences.
4.
Berscheid, E.
and E. Walster. 1974. "Physical Attractiveness."Advanced Experimental Social Psychology7:157-215.
5.
Blau, Z.1961. "Structural Constraints on Friendships in Old Age."American Sociological Review26:429-439.
6.
Brecher, E. M.
(Ed.). 1984. Love, Sex and Aging: A Consumers Union Report. Boston: Little, Brown.
7.
Brown, A. S. 1973. "The Elderly Widowed and Their Patterns of Social Participation and Disengagement." Dissertation Abstracts International 34:422A. (University Microfilms No. 73-15, 743)
8.
Bultena, G. L.1968. "Age-Grading in the Social Interaction of an Elderly Male Population."Journal of Gerontology23:539-543.
9.
Burns, A. 1978. "The Perceived Inter-Relation of Physical Attractiveness, Likability, and Perceived Age in Women." Dissertation Abstracts International 38:6232B-6233B. (University Microfilms No. 78-08,667)
10.
Byrne, D.1969. "Attitudes and Attraction."Advanced Experimental Social Psychology4:36-89.
11.
Cameron. P.
and A. Cromer. 1974. "Generational Homophyly."Journal of Gerontology29:232-236.
12.
Campbell, A.
, P. E. Converse, and W. L. Rodgers. 1976. The Quality of American Life. New York: Russell Sage.
13.
Cantor. M. H.1979. "Neighbors and Friends: An Overlooked Resource in the Informal Support System."Research on Aging4:434-463.
14.
Chaikin, A. L.
and V. J. Derlega. 1974. "Variables Affecting the Appropriateness of Self-Disclosure."Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology42:588-593.
15.
Chelune, G. J.1976. "Reactions to Male and Female Disclosure at Two Levels."Journal of Personality and Social Psychology34:1000-1003.
16.
Creecy, R. F.
and R. Wright. 1979. "Morale and Informal Activity with Friends Among Black and White Elderly."Gerontologist19:544-547.
17.
Derlega. V. J.
, M. S. Harris, and A. L. Chaikin. 1973. "Self-Disclosure Reciprocity, Liking and the Deviant."Journal of Experimental Social Psychology9:277-284.
18.
Dion, K.
, E. Berscheid, and E. Walster. 1972. "What Is Beautiful Is Good."Journal of Personality and Social Psychology24:285-290.
19.
Downs. V. C.
, J. Smith, A. Chatham, and A. Boyle. 1986. "Elderly Perceptions of a Competent Communicator."Communication Research Reports3:120-124.
20.
Ehrlich, H. J.
and D. B. Graeven. 1971. "Reciprocal Self-Disclosure in a Dyad."Journal of Experimental Social Psychology7:389-400.
21.
Giles, H.
and P. F. Powesland. 1975. Speech Style and Social Evaluation. London: Academic Press.
22.
Goebel, B. L.1982. "Age Preferences of Older Adults in Relationships Important to Their Life Satisfaction."Journal of Gerontology37:461-467.
23.
Griffitt, W.
, J. Nelson, and G. Littlepage. 1972. "Old Age and Response to Agreement-Disagreement."Journal of Gerontology27:269-274.
24.
Harris, A. P. 1976. "A Study of Middle-Aged Adults and Aging Parents in a Suburban Community." Dissertation Abstracts International 36-3859B. (University Microfilms No. 76-3286)
25.
Heltsley, M. E.
and R. C. Powers. 1975. "Social Interaction and Perceived Adequacy of Interaction of the Rural Aged."Gerontologist15:533-536.
26.
Huston, T. L.
and G. Levinger. 1978. "Interpersonal Attraction and Relationships."Annual Review of Psychology29:115-156.
27.
Johnson. C. L.1983. "Dyadic Family Relations and Social Support."Gerontologist23:377-383.
28.
Johnson, M.
and A. Tesser. 1972. "Some Interactive Effects of Evaluative Similarity, Structural Similarity, and Type of Interpersonal Situation on Interpersonal Attraction."Journal of Experimental Research in Personality6:154-161.
29.
Kiesler, S. B.1973. "Preference for Predictability or Unpredictability as a Mediator of Reactions to Norm Violations."Journal of Personality and Social Psychology27:354-359.
30.
Kinsey, A. C.
, W. B. Pomeroy, and C. E. Martin. 1948. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.
31.
Lawrence, J. H.1974. "The Effect of Perceived Age on Initial Impressions and Normative Role Expectations."International Journal of Aging and Human Development5:369-391.
32.
Levin, J.
and W. C. Levin. 1981. "Willingness to Interact with an Old Person."Research on Aging3:211-217.
33.
Lott, A. J.
and B. E. Lott. 1961. "Group Cohesiveness, Communication Level, and Conformity."Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology62:408-412.
34.
Moran. G.1966. "Dyadic Attraction and Orientational Consensus."Journal of Personality and Social Psychology4:94-99.
35.
Norton. R. W. 1976. "Foundation of Communicator Style Construct." Unpublished manuscript, Department of Speech Communication, University of Michigan.
36.
Norton. R. W.
and L. Pettegrew. 1977. "Communicator Style as an Effect Determinant of Attraction."Communication Research4:257-282.
37.
Nussbaum, J. F.1983. "Relational Closeness of Elderly Interaction: Implications for Life Satisfaction."Western Journal of Speech Communication47:229-243.
38.
Oyer. H. J.
and E. J. Oyer (Eds.). 1976. Aging and Communication. Baltimore: University Park Press.
39.
Palmore. E.
(Ed.). 1970. Duke Longitudinal Studies, 1955-1969: Normal Aging. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
40.
Peterson, J. L.
and C. Miller. 1980. "Physical Attractiveness and Marriage Adjustment in Older American Couples."Journal of Psychology105:247-252.
41.
Puckett, J. M.
. R. E. Petty, J. T. Cacioppo, and D. L. Fischer. 1983. "The Relative Impact of Age and Attractiveness Stereotypes on Persuasion."Journal of Gerontology38:340-343.
42.
Rollins, B. C.
and K. L. Cannon. 1974. "Marital Satisfaction Over the Family Life Cycle: A Reevaluation."Journal of Marriage and the Family36:271-282.
43.
Rosow, I.1970. "Old People: Their Friends and Neighbors."American Behavioral Scientist14:59-69.
44.
Rubin. I.1965. Sexual Life After Sixty. New York: Basic Books.
45.
Rubin. K. H.
and I.D.R. Brown. 1975. "A Life-Span Look at Person Perception and Its Relationship to Communicative Interaction."Journal of Gerontology30:461-468.
46.
Santee. R. T.1976. "The Effect on Attraction of Attitude Similarity as Information About Interpersonal Reinforcement Contingencies."Sociometry39:153-156.
47.
Sermat, V.
and M. Smyth. 1973. "Content Analysis of Verbal Communication in the Development of a Relationship: Conditions Influencing Self-Disclosure."Journal of Personality and Social Psychology26:332-346.
48.
Sigall. H.
and D. Landy. 1973. "Radiating Beauty: Effects of Having a Physically Attractive Partner on Person Perception."Journal of Personality and Social Psychology28:218-224.
49.
Spanier. G. B.
. R. A. Lewis, and C. L. Cole. 1975. "Marital Adjustment Over the Family Life Cycle: The Issue of Curvilinearity."Journal of Marriage and the Family37:263-275.
50.
Tamir. L. M.1979. Communication and the Aging Process: Interaction Throughout the Lifecycle. New York: Pergamon.
51.
Tesser. A.1972. "Attitude Similarity and Intercorrelations as Determinants of Interpersonal Attraction."Journal of Experimental Research in Personality6:142-153.
52.
Touhey, J. C.1975. "Interpersonal Congruency, Attitude Similarity, and Interpersonal Attraction."Journal of Research in Personality9:66-73.
53.
Troll, L. E.1971. "The Family of Later Life: A Decade Review."Journal of Marriage and the Family33:263-290.
54.
U.S. Bureau of the Census
. 1982. "Projections of the Population of the United States: 1982 to 2050 (Advance Report)." In Current Population Reports, Series P-25, No. 922. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
