Abstract:

With the explosive growth of the aging population, researchers are paying more and more attention to stereotype threat among older adults. Unlike the race/ethnicity and gender stereotype threats, aging stereotype threat is characterized by its accumulativeness, intercommunity, and continuity. Existing research on aging stereotype threat has been primarily focused on cognitive aging, in particular, memory aging, and the impact of aging stereotype threat on older drivers and workers. Five intervening factors are shown to be effective in mitigating the adverse effects of aging stereotype threat: cognitive modification, group identification, intergenerational contact, self-actualization and individualization, and influence of mass media. Laboratory studies of aging stereotype threat use both explicit and implicit manipulation methods. Future research can benefit from extending to broader research areas, refining differences between age groups, comparing the overall effect size and gender difference, emphasizing on positive effects, and drawing upon indigenous studies and cross-cultural comparisons.

Key words: aging population, aging stereotype threat, manipulation, cognitive modification, group identification