Biosocial Development: Late Adulthood

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Prejudice & Predictions:

Ageism- A prejudice whereby people are categorized and judged solely on the basis of their chronological age.

Prejudice about late adulthood is common among people of all ages, including young children and older adults. Ageism shares parallels with other prejudices, such as racism and sexism.

Those who suffer the sting of ageism may be blindsided, unprepared to counteract the prejudice they experience.

Parents of non-white hildren engage in racial socialization, teaching their children about heroes of their group and alerting them to prejudice that they might experience and how to combat it.

Ageism in some ways is unrecognized but pervasive in the media, employment, and retirement communities.

Older people of every ethnic group are vulnerable to ageist stereotype threat. When reminders of possible prejudice make them anxious and less able to function.

Ageism fosters anxiety, morbididy, and even mortality.

ageism becomes a self fulfilling prophecy

if people of any age treat older people as if they are frail and confused, that treatment might make the aged more dependent on others.

f people believe that the norms for young adults should apply to everyone, they may try to fix the old. If they fail, they give up.

if older people themselves think that their age makes them feeble, tey stop taking care of themselves.

Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world.

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When older people believe that htey are independent and in control of their own lives, they are likely to be healthier mentally and physically.

Only 35% of those age 65+ meet the recommended guidlines for exercise.

55% of 18-64 year olds meet the requirement.

Among the professionals most likely to harbor stereotypes are nurses, doctors and other care workers. Their ageism is difficult to erase.

Partly because it is based on their experience in treating older patients who are sick and dependent.

Elderspeak- the way people talk to the old.

The homicide rate for those over 65 is less than 1/5th of the rate for those in their 20s

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Demographic Shift

Demography is the science that describes populations, including population by cohort, age, gender, and region

Demographic shift- a shift in the proportions of the populations of various ages.