Projections of aging: impact of generational differences and the aging process on perceptions of adults

In the domain of personality, a variety of stereotypes about old age are found. Unfortunately, the methodologies of previous studies have not dealt with a potential confound as to whether attitudes are a function of the aging process or of perceptions of generations. The present study was designed as a first step toward distinguishing between these possibilities. Young adults rated one target generation (i.e., today's 22-, 41-, or 69-year-olds) at one age period (i.e., as 22-, 41-, or 69-year-olds) on a series of personality attributes. Results demonstrated that attitudes (i.e., perceptions of personality) varied more often as a function of target generation, reflecting a general tendency for young adults to view other generations in a different fashion from the way they view their own. Overall, attitudes toward the older generation of age period were more positive than negative.