The Stereotype Content Model Approach to the Study of Ageism in History

The phenomenon of ageism is a ubiquitous one, evident in all societies where age-based hierarchies are tacitly accepted. Ageism manifests in various forms, contingent upon the age stereotypes and prejudices that are prevalent within a given social group at a specific point in time. In this chapter, the author links the stereotype content model to a typology of four forms of ageism: positive, compassionate, envious and hostile ageism. Based on a brief outline of the attitudes of historical societies towards the older people, he illustrates the applicability of the stereotype content model to identify the most likely manifestations of ageism in different historical periods. The chapter concludes with the identification of six theoretical assumptions about ageism throughout history that could be considered for future empirical research.