Social stereotypes of elderly for different age groups

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to identify stereotypes of elderly for different age groups. Eight focus groups with five participants each were conducted. 12 pictures of persons and 70 cards were used with adjectives regarding to elderlies. The participants (40) were separated by gender and age groups. Among them, 30 reported daily contact with elderlies. For the elderly participants, age was the main criterion of categorization, followed by ethnicity, for the other groups the main criterion was gender, followed by age. In average, each group developed three categories and all reported age as the used criterion. Consensus of categories emerged on "old-aged": cult, depressed, grumpy, positive and negative. The homogeneity effect of the out-group occurred in most groups, but the intergroup favoritism did not take place.