TY - JOUR
AU - Langer, Ellen
AB -  Yale University Ellen Langer Harvard University This paper describes several studies that investigated how negative labeling and stigmatization of the elderly might contribute to behavior that would then confirm prevalent stereotypes of old age and lead to lowered self-esteem and diminished feelings of control. First, the nature and extent of labeling processes regarding the elderly were described, followed by a description of studies considering how these stereotypes might affect actual interactions involving older persons. It was found that younger people make fewer demands on an elderly person, due to judgments of diminished competence. Reasons for the occurrence of negative labels were discussed. These include the operation of the availability heuristic regarding judgments of incidence of certain characteristics in the elderly population, and speculation that the elderly suffer from mislabeling and avoidance because they are relatively novel stimuli to most younger persons. Finally, studies are described that investigate how the consequences of negative labels and over-attribution to age-related deficits can be reversed by environmental interventions. Suggested strategies for social change are also briefly discussed. By the year 2000, it is estimated that over 15 percent of the population, 30 million people, will be 65 or over. Although aging affords 
TI - Aging Labels: The Decline of Control and the Fall of Self‐Esteem
JF - Journal of Social Issues
DO - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1980.tb02019.x
DA - 1980-04-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/aging-labels-the-decline-of-control-and-the-fall-of-self-esteem-DuP5YB00uE
SP - 12
VL - 36
IS - 2
DP - DeepDyve
ER -