Ageism and Death: Effects of Mortality Salience and Perceived Similarity to Elders on Reactions to Elderly People

Abstract

The present research investigated the hypotheses that elderly people can be reminders of our mortality and that concerns about our own mortality can therefore instigate ageism. In Study 1, college-age participants who saw photos of two elderly people subsequently showed more death accessibility than participants who saw photos of only younger people. In Study 2, making mortality salient for participants increased distancing from the average elderly person and decreased perceptions that the average elderly person possesses favorable attitudes. Mortality salience did not affect ratings of teenagers. In Study 3, these mortality salience effects were moderated by prior reported similarity to elderly people. Distancing from and derogation of elderly people after mortality salience occurred only in participants who, weeks before the study, rated their personalities as relatively similar to the average elderly person's. Discussion addresses distinguishing ageism from other forms of prejudice, as well as possibilities for reducing ageism.

Origins of Ageism at the Individual Level

“…Studies have also shed light on the mechanisms that lead from mortality salience to in-group bias, indicating the mediating role of in-group identification and perceived collective continuity (Castano et al 2002;Herrera and Sani 2013) as well as control motivation (Agroskin and Jonas 2013). In addition, studies have found that mortality salience increased the use of stereotypes based on nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, and age (e.g., Castano 2004;Martens et al 2004;Schimel et al 1999). The use of negative stereotypes further increased when a competitive or threatening out-group member was present (Renkema et al 2008).…”

Killing Begets Killing: Evidence From a Bug-Killing Paradigm That Initial Killing Fuels Subsequent Killing

“…This measure consisted of a single item asking participants to "Please rate how similar/different you think you are to small insects" on a 9-point bipolar scale ranging from not at all similar (1) to extremely similar (9). A similar question was used successfully in past research also investigating the threatening implications of similarity (Martens et al, 2004). The experimenter was blind to these ratings.…”

Direct and extended intergenerational contact and young people's attitudes towards older adults

“…Greenberg et al . (2002) proposed that individuals cope with the anxiety induced by such threats by denigrating entities that serve as reminders of their own fate (see also Martens, Greenberg, Schimel, & Landau, 2004; Nelson, 2005). Consistent with this reasoning, several studies have found a positive correlation between ageing anxiety and ageism (Allan & Johnson, 2009; Allan, Johnson, & Emerson, 2014; Boswell, 2012; Harris & Dollinger, 2001).…”