May 29, 1998

Negative stereotypes of aging dictate behavior

Buying into negative stereotypes about elderly people can decrease their ability to perform everyday tasks, said Dr. Sheree Kwong See, a systems professor of the U of A Department of Psychology.

"One example is memory," said Kwong See from her office on campus. "If everyone is telling you your memory will decrease when you are old, it will. Often elderly people just won't try as hard." Kwong See's research identifies perceptions and stereotypes of older people. In the 1950s and 60s there was a fear of senior citizens being victims of widespread negative stereotypes, she said. More recent stereotypes about elderly people suggest a mixture of both positive and negative beliefs.

"When you test the domain of intelligence, which might be memory or language, older people are not expected to do as well," said Kwong See. "In contrast, there are positive views when we are assessing the personality of older people."

"They are now viewed as being sincere, wise and kind."

One of the greatest reasons for the shift in ideology is the way research was done many years ago, she said. The difference in the methodology is in the way questions were asked. In the 1950s respondents may have been asked 'Are old people dirty?' or 'Do old people have good memories?'

The way the research was conducted only allowed people to agree or disagree with what was being said. Now when studies are done, participants are asked to explain themselves, giving a much more accurate representation of beliefs, said Kwong See.

Kwong See has confirmed that believing in negative stereotypes colors perceptions of the elderly.

"I have found that if older people do something competent, others will ignore it," she said. "But when the elderly do something incompetent, people will say, 'A-ha,' it's because they're old."

One prevalent stereotype about the elderly is that many are inactive and do not take care of themselves.

Hugh Hoyles, director of campus recreation at the university, comes in contact everyday with seniors who defy that stereotype.

"One example where we have many elderly participants is in recreational intramurals," said Hoyles. "We have close to 100 hockey teams and one league that is called 'Over 35.'

"In just that one league alone we have six teams with one 72-year-old, many people in their 60s and myself who is in my 50s," he said. "And that is just one league."

One of the biggest changes in health and fitness is older people are learning to take care of themselves, said Hoyles. The gyms, fitness and activity centers are now filled with seniors.

"In recreational swim time I see a lot of gray hair in the pool," said Hoyles. "So there are quite a number of examples in the program here that disprove that elderly stereotype.

"Sure there are lots that are sedentary but lots of people are active."

And it is those people who usually do not buy into the negative stereotypes, said Kwong See.

"If you are healthy you are not likely to take on the label of old," she said. "As long as you are functioning well you are not likely to take part in the stereotype."

Now that the beliefs have been identified, Kwong See and her colleagues are trying to show people how to break the negative cycle of labeling old people as incapable and incompetent.

"When you encourage an older person to let stereotypes guide their behavior by talking very loudly to them or speaking slowly, the older person is exposed to that on an everyday basis and will soon believe it," she said. "Many will withdraw from social interaction and take on the role that is presented to them.

"But when you make people aware of diversity and the need to focus in on the older person in front of them rather than the stereotype, in the long run we might be able to show them that beliefs matter and can change behavior in older people," said Kwong See. "We have to show people how to break the negative cycle."

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