[en] Stigmatization related to age (i.e., ageism) is a widespread phenomenon in the modern industrial societies where older people are perceived as cognitively incompetent. Therefore negative stereotypes about age-related cognitive decline may have a detrimental influence on older adults on their cognitive performance. The aim of the present review is to understand how stereotypes can influence the performance of the elderly on cognitive tests. We first describe the stereotype threat phenomenon by providing an overview of situations likely to produce stereotype threat, as well as contextual and personal characteristics that moderate its effects. Possible mechanisms underlying these influences on cognitive performance are also presented. Secondly, we address self-stereotyping, which explains long-term negative effects of stereotypes and their unconscious influence on older adults’ cognitive performance. However, some age stereotypes have also positive effects on aged people, as shown by some studies describing such beneficial effects of positive stereotypes on cognitive performance. Finally we try to understand why negative age stereotyping has a much stronger influence on important behavioral outcomes among older adults than does positive age stereotyping. Given all these results, we examine how negative age stereotypes may impact older adults’ cognitive performance in real-world settings
such as during a cognitive assessment. [fr] La stigmatisation liée à l’âge (âgisme) est un phénomène répandu dans les sociétés industrielles contemporaines dans lesquelles les personnes âgées sont spécialement perçues comme incompétentes. Or, ces stéréotypes peuvent conduire à surestimer les effets de l’âge sur les capacités cognitives des personnes âgées et l’objectif de cet article est de comprendre, via la description de la théorie de la menace du stéréotype et de celle de l’auto-stéréotypisation, comment les stéréotypes peuvent diminuer les performances des personnes âgées dans des tests cognitifs. La menace du stéréotype apparaît lorsqu’une personne âgée, en situation de test, court le risque de confirmer un stéréotype négatif vis-à-vis de son groupe d’âge. Différentes variables situationnelles et personnelles modérant ce phénomène sont présentées, ainsi que les mécanismes le sous-tendant. L’auto-stéréotypisation est proposée comme explication des effets à long terme des stéréotypes et de leur influence inconsciente sur les performances cognitives des personnes âgées. Des effets bénéfiques des stéréotypes liés à l’âge sur les performances cognitives sont également décrits. Des exemples de situations réelles dans le cadre de l’évaluation cognitive qui peuvent véhiculer des stéréotypes négatifs et conduire à sous-estimer les performances cognitives des personnes âgées sont finalement présentés.
Disciplines :
Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Marquet, Manon ; Université de Liège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement
Missotten, Pierre ; Université de Liège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement
Adam, Stéphane ; Université de Liège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement
Language :
French
Title :
Âgisme et surestimation des difficultés cognitives des personnes âgées: une revue de la question
Alternative titles :
[en] Ageism and overestimation of cognitive difficulties in older people: a review
Publication date :
2016
Journal title :
Gériatrie et Psychologie Neuropsychiatrie du Vieillissement
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