Abstract

One of the most widespread beliefs about the occurrence of age discrimination is that it is attributable to age stereotypes. However, the mere activation of age stereotypes is by no means a sufficient condition for the occurrence of age discrimination. Accordingly, the aim of this chapter is to critically review the hypothesis that age stereotypes cause age discrimination considering their conceptual relatedness as well as empirical evidence. It is important to acknowledge that age discrimination and age stereotypes are domain-specific phenomena. Besides taking contextual aspects into account, we also consider the perspectives of both the actor (i.e., the discriminating person) and the perceiver (i.e., the older adult who is being discriminated against and/or perceives age discrimination) to better understand the stereotype-discrimination association. Regarding the actor’s perspective, several studies identified moderators of the relationship between age stereotypes and age discrimination. This perspective can be complemented by considering that older adults themselves also hold age stereotypes that affect their interpretation of other peoples’ behaviour towards them and even their own behaviour. Accordingly, a reciprocal relation between the stereotypes held by both parts is easily conceivable where their expectations and behaviours mutually reinforce each other. In order to understand the relations between age stereotypes and age discrimination it is necessary to consider personal characteristics and contextual constraints on both parts, and to acknowledge the added complexity and domain-specificity of the relations between age stereotypes and age discrimination in real life interactions.

Highlights

  • [...] everything matched with my occupational profile

  • Difficult it can be to determine whether a negative outcome or behaviour constitutes a case of age discrimination and if so whether it was caused by age stereotypes at all

  • In order to make informed decisions about new research on age stereotypes and age discrimination, to conduct interventions targeting age discrimination, or to initiate policies directed at reducing age discrimination based on age stereotypes, it is of upmost importance to understand the complex relationship between age stereotypes and age discrimination

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Summary

Introduction

Independently of whether or not the recruiter held negative stereotypes about older adults, it is possible that there was someone who was better qualified for the job among the other applicants In yet another version, the event that led to the rejection could be explained by his interview results that might have been worse compared to those of other applicants, which again might have been for example caused by what is referred to as “stereotype threat” in the literature (Hess et al 2003).

Ageist Behaviour and Perceived Age Discrimination
Age Stereotypes and Age
Ageism from the Actor’s Perspective
Review of Existing Evidence for Age Stereotypes as Predictors of Age Discriminatory Behaviours
Moderators of the Relation Between Age Stereotypes and Ageist Behaviour
Ageism from the Perceiver’s Perspective
Review of Existing Evidence for Age Stereotypes as Predictors of Perceived Age Discrimination
Mediators of the Relations Between Age Stereotypes and Perceived Age Discrimination
Interrelations Between the Perceiver’s and the Actor’s Perspectives
Conclusion and Implications

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