Young People's Evaluations of Intergenerational Versus Peer Underaccommodation

Abstract

Research concerned with social perceptions of older people has suggested that they are commonly viewed in rather negative stereotypical ways. Takingan intergroup perspective, this study examined young people's perceptions of communication underaccommodation (inattention, nonlistening, and interrupting) in an intergenerational versus a peer-young context. Results revealed that, as expected, the underaccommodative conversations were perceived to be much more dissatisfying than those that were not underaccommodative. However, contrary to expectations, results revealed that the older person was consistently perceived more positively than the younger person. A follow-up study suggested that respondents may have viewed the older person rather benevolently, making allowances for her underaccommodations that they were unwilling to make for the younger person. Results are discussed in terms of both positive and negative ageism.