Perception of the Old by Young Adults in Nigeria

Abstract

Using 21 bipolar adjectives, we aimed to identify the positive and negative perceptions of old people held by 375 young adults studying at a Nigerian university. Results showed that the young adults evaluated the concept of "old person" more positively than they did the concept of "young person"; specifically, the old person was rated as significantly more sincere, wise, fair, innocent, and predictable than the young person was. Further, we did not find any pervasive negative stereotypes of the old, as held by the young adults.