[Images and discourses of ageing--annotations to the state of research]

Up to now, images of ageing are considered unilaterally from an individualising perspective in which the cause for negative images as well as the starting point for potential change is localised in cognitive attitude patterns. In this contribution we plead for a conceptual extension of the research on images of ageing which also encloses societal discourses and body images. Images and discourses of ageing and associated ideas of man also reflect the intentions and images of social interest groups. Hence, an important research assignment should be to examine existing images and discourses of ageing critical for their ideological, cultural and societal implications.