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The Impact of Television Media on the Endorsement of Aging Stereotypes

Pullen, Carly E The Impact of Television Media on the Endorsement of Aging Stereotypes. 2021. Radford University, Thesis. Radford University Scholars' Repository.

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Abstract

Ageism is defined as the stereotyping and prejudices held toward older adults and the aging process (Butler, 1969). Across the literature, an older adult refers to anyone over the age of 65. Research suggests that people stigmatize older adults in both positive and negative ways, which provides the basis for stereotypes to arise. Although there are more negative adjectives assigned to older adults, both positive and negative adjectives are assigned. Fiske, Cuddy, and Glick (2007) found that older adults are most often categorized as warm and incompetent. The present study examined how video clips from Netflix’s Grace and Frankie influence how people feel about older adults. Participants were randomly assigned to view either a stereotype congruent (warm and incompetent) or stereotype challenged (cold and competent) clip for a male or female character from Grace and Frankie. The stereotype challenged condition showed older adult characters as cold and competent (capable), while the stereotype congruent condition showed older adult characters as warm or incompetent. After viewing the clips participants completed an adjective endorsement task regarding the stigmatization of older adults. Those who viewed the stereotype congruent clips endorsed more warmth/incompetence adjectives stereotypes, while those who viewed the stereotype challenged clips endorsed adjectives less strongly. Results also showed that those who viewed the female older adult video clips endorsed more incompetence adjectives. However, the current study did not find the same for the endorsement of warmth adjectives, when viewing female older adults.

Item Type: Thesis
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Radford University > College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences > Department of Psychology
Date Deposited: 16 Nov 2021 01:28
Last Modified: 20 Apr 2023 19:02
URI: http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/707

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