Premium
Ageism: A Review of Research and Policy Implications
Author(s) -
Bugental Daphne Blunt,
Hehman Jessica A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
social issues and policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.798
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1751-2409
pISSN - 1751-2395
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-2409.2007.00007.x
Subject(s) - psychology , competence (human resources) , psychosocial , cognitive aging , perspective (graphical) , cognition , context (archaeology) , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , computer science , paleontology , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , biology
The current literature on aging and ageism is summarized in support of a theoretical perspective that includes both the biological and the psychosocial components of these processes. Conceptual and methodological problems are identified in models that rely on a deficit approach to aging. We suggest that the biased responses of others foster older adults' stress‐related emotional and hormonal responses—responses that may effectively reduce their social and cognitive competence. This negative feedback process ultimately acts in a stereotype‐maintaining fashion. Implications are drawn for possible changes in social policy and institutional practices that may reduce or prevent the harmful effects of ageism. Examples are given of existing policies and practices that limit the lives of older adults (in the guise of protection), along with newly instituted policies and practices (including those at an international level) that place the welfare of older adults in the context of life course issues shared by all.