Old age stereotypes: reconciling contradictions.

This study tested the hypothesis that age stereotyping with specific targets would occur when targets were disabled, when information was minimal, when the context was commonplace, and when the measuring instruments were psychometrically sound. In addition, greater compatibility was anticipated between specific and generalized target evaluations when rating scales were anchored to a fixed comparison point. Using between-subject designs, 208 students completed two judgment tasks and reported on the impact that age had on their evaluations. The traditional stereotyping paradigm revealed both positive and negative stereotypes of old age when the target was generalized but not when the target was specific. The qualitative data are used to suggest shortcomings in the use of the traditional stereotyping paradigm with specific targets.