Abstract

The hypothesis of the present research is that older adults relative to young adults will be perceived in a manner analogous to how low status individuals are perceived relative to high status individuals. Study 1 examines young participants' perceptions of older adults and young adults by having them rate traits that have been used to describe the typical old person (Schmidt and Boland, 1986). The findings are consistent with past research which reveals multiple types of older adults and young adults. Study 2 examines young participants' perceptions of low status and high status individuals by having participants rate the same traits used in Study 1. The methodology of Study 2 is derived from a study by Conway, Pizzamiglio, and Mount (1996) which measures people's perceptions of low status and high status individuals. Participants' representations of older adults in Study 1 are relatively complex as compared with their perceptions of status in Study 2. Older adults are not only attributed traits associated with low status (e.g., quiet, arouses pity, neglected) but are also attributed traits associated with high status (e.g., prejudiced and set in ways). Participants did not attribute traits associated with low status to young adults. However, participants did attribute traits reflecting selfishness to young adults and to high status individuals.