Attitudes toward Aging and Their Effects on Behavior

Abstract

This chapter provides an understanding of the nature of attitudes about aging and the mechanisms through which they influence the behavior of older adults. Negative attitudes about aging are pervasive in the culture and are reflected in affective, cognitive, and behavioral responses of individuals and groups of all ages. Evidence shows that implicit attitudes may be even more strongly negative than explicit ones. People do not view old age as a homogeneous category. Stereotypes of old age contain several different subtypes of older adults, many of which are negative, but also some of which are positive. However, most of the positive subtypes of old age have a subtle, negative evaluative component. Individual and situational factors affect the nature of aging attitudes and the probability that they will influence behavior. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.