In this study, 490 community adults aged 20 to 59 evaluated their experiences with non-family members aged 13 to 16 years, 65 to 85 years, and their own age, in terms of their perceptions of both the others’ and their own communicative behavior. As well as validating previous research that suggested that nonaccommodation, accommodation, and respect/obligation are important evaluative dimensions for communication between younger and older people, these results revealed two relatively new evaluative dimensions—noncommunication and self-promotion—which seem particularly relevant for perceptions of communication with 13- to 16-year-olds. Overall, although elders are perceived as more nonaccommodative, 13- to 16-year-olds were viewed as more noncommunicative, less accommodative, and more self-promotional. Findings also suggest changes in evaluations across the lifespan. For example, the older respondents tended to view elders more favorably. Results are discussed in the context of a plea for more research taking a developmental lifespan perspective on intergenerational communication.
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