<br />REPRESENTAÇÕES SOCIAIS DA VIOLÊNCIA SOBRE IDOSOS: IDADISMO, ESTERIÓTIPOS E DISCRIMINAÇÃO

Abstract

Violence against the elderly results from a combination of individual, contextual and sociocultural factors. Objective: To analyze the social representations of a group of elderly people about violence against the elderly and the reasons for this violence. Methods: Qualitative approach based on Social Representations Theory. A total of 237 elderly people aged 65-96 years participated in the project Ageing Safely in Alentejo (Preventing Falls and Violence against the Elderly) – Understanding for Action, at the University of Evora. The Free Speech Association technique was used and data were processed through qualitative data analysis software. Results: Violence is associated with injustice, sadness, lack of respect, malice and abandonment. The reasons of violence are evil, lack of respect, drugs, alcohol, money and lack of education. Conclusion: The social representations of these elderly people on violence and their reasons refer to the stereotypes associated with the prevalent ageism in society, where the social devaluation of the elderly dominates day-life conceptions and practices. Descriptors: Social representations; violence; elderly; discrimination; stereotypes.