A group of 212 undergraduate and graduate students completed Kogan's Attitudes Toward Old People scale (OP) and the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS). Persons scoring higher in the trait of aggression demonstrated significantly more negative attitudes toward the aged. Females, older students, and graduate students all tended to be more positive in their attitudes toward older people. Students majoring in business subjects tended to be more negative toward the elderly, while social work students had the most positive attitudes toward older people.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ThorsonJ.WhatleyL., and HancockK., Attitudes Toward the Aged as a Function of Age and Education, The Gerontologist, 14, pp. 316–318, 1974.
2.
ThorsonJ., Attitudes Toward the Aged as a Function of Race and Social Class, The Gerontologist, 15, pp. 343–344, 1975.
3.
McTavishD., Perceptions of Old People: A Review of Research, Methodologies, and Findings, The Gerontologist, 11, pp. 90–101, 1971.
4.
RileyM. W. and FonerA., Aging and Society, Vol. 1, Russell Sage Foundation, New York, 1968.
5.
BennettR. and EckmanJ., Attitudes Toward Aging: A Critical Examination of Recent Literature and Implications for Future Research, EisdorferC. and LawtonM. P. (eds.), The Psychology of Adult Development and Aging, American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., 1973.
6.
TuckmanJ. and LorgeI., The Influence of a Course on the Psychology of the Adult on Attitudes Toward Old People and Older Workers, Journal of Educational Psychology, 43, pp. 400–407, 1952.
7.
TuckmanJ. and LorgeI., Attitudes Toward Old People, Journal of Social Psychology, 37, pp. 249–260, 1953.
8.
TuckmanJ. and LorgeI., Classification of the Self as Young, Middle-Aged, or Old, Geriatrics, 9, pp. 534–537, 1954.
9.
TuckmanJ. and LorgeI., Perceptual Stereotypes About Life and Adjustments, Journal of Social Psychology, 43, pp. 239–245, 1956.
10.
TuckmanJ. and LorgeI., Attitude Toward Aging of Individuals with Experiences with the Aged, Journal of Genetic Psychology, 92, pp. 199–204, 1958.
11.
KoganN., Attitudes Toward Old People in an Older Sample, Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62, pp. 616–622, 1961.
12.
KoganN., Attitudes Toward Old People: The Development of a Scale and Examination of Correlates, Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62, pp. 44–54, 1961.
13.
KoganN. and WallachM., Age Changes in Values and Attitudes, Journal of Gerontology, 16, pp. 272–280, 1961.
14.
KoganN. and SheltonF., Images of “Old People” and “People in General” in an Older Sample, Journal of Genetic Psychology, 100, pp. 3–21, 1962.
15.
KoganN. and SheltonF., Beliefs About “Old People”: A Comparative Study of Older and Younger Samples, Journal of Genetic Psychology, 100, pp. 93–111, 1962.
16.
MurrayH., Explorations in Personality, Oxford University Press, New York, 1938.
17.
EdwardsA., Edwards' Personal Preference Schedule Revised Manual, The Psychological Corporation, New York, 1959.
18.
HeilbrunA., Edwards' Personal Preference Schedule, BurosO. K. (ed.), Seventh Mental Measurements Yearbook, Gryphon Press, Highland Park, New Jersey, 1970.