Stereotypes Toward Older People - Experiencies of Older People

Stereotipi su pojednostavljena mišljenja o osobama na temelju njihove pripadnosti određenoj grupi. Stereotipiziranju su podložne sve društvene skupine, naročito starije osobe kojima se pridaju pretežno negativne karakteristike. Ovaj rad se u bitnom dotiče problematike stereotipa prema starijim osobama. Kroz teorijsku obradu nastoji se pojmovno odrediti područje stereotipa, vjerovanja i mitova o starijima te dati pregled relevantnih istraživanja u ovom području. Nadalje, provedenim kvalitativnim istraživanjem nastojalo se ispitati upoznatost i zastupljenost stereotipa prema starijima u različitim domenama njihova života. Propitivanje odnosa s mladima, upoznatosti i korištenja tehnologije, stava spram medijskih sadržaja koji promiču kulturu mladih imalo je za cilj osvješćivanje eventualnih stereotipnih uloga i osobina koje su dodijeljene starijima u društvu. Uzorak je činilo devet sudionika koji su birani na temelju različitih obilježja (spol, oblik stanovanja). Iz izjava sudionika može se uočiti pozitivan odnos sa ostalim društvenim skupina, naročito mladima. U odnosima s mladima i starima sudionici ne osjećaju podcjenjivanje ili eventualno umanjivanje njihove vrijednosti. Većina ih je upoznata s dominantnim vjerovanjima i stereotipima o starijim osobama, ali ih olako ne prihvaćaju. Čest stereotip o smanjenom intelektualnom funkcioniranju starijih i nemogućnosti savladavanja novih znanja kod sudionika nije prihvaćen, štoviše nastoje ga argumentiramo odbaciti. Stereotipno mišljenje kod sudionika je vidljivo u opisima vlastite dobne skupine. Aktivan život u trećoj životnoj dobi, vidljiv kod sudionika istraživanja, potvrđuje da percepcija starosti kao pasivnog perioda polako nestaje pred generacijama starijih kojima su učenje i želja za novim izazovima imperativ zdravog starenja. Na temelju svega može se uočiti kako sudionici predstavljaju anti-stereotipni primjer starenja i starosti čime potvrđuju kako je generaliziranje socijalnih grupa (starijih) nepravedno i neutemeljeno. To pak nameće potrebu redefiniranja perioda starosti koje nije i ne bi smjelo biti promatrano isključivo negativistički.Stereotypes are a common perceptions of people based on their belonging to a particular group. Stereotyping is susceptible to all social groups, especially older people who are perceived through predominantly negative characteristics. This paper addresses the issues of stereotyping older people. This paper adresses the issues of stereotyping older people and aims to define the area of stereotypes, beliefs and myths about the elderly as well as to give an overview of relevant research in this area. Furthermore, a qualitative research was conducted for the purpose of this paper, and it was aimed at examining the familiarity and representation of stereotypes with older people in different domains of their lives. Discussing the relationship with the younger generations, familiarity and usage of technology, and attitude towards media promoting youth culture was aimed at raising awareness of possible stereotypical roles and attributes that were given to the elderly in the society. The sample consisted of nine participants who were selected on the basis of different characteristics (gender, form of residence). Participants' statements may show a positive relationship with other social groups, especially young people. The participants do not feel underestimated or devaluated when reffereing to the relationship with with younger nor older generations. Most of them are familiar with the dominant beliefs and stereotypes about the elderly but they do not easily accept them. The participants do not accept a common stereotypes about the decreased intellectual functioning of the elderly and the inability to acquire new information, but they arguably dismiss it. Stereotypical perceptions among participants is evident in the descriptions of their own age group. Active life in the third age, found in old people, confirms that the perception of old age as a passive period is slowly disappearing due to new generation of old people to whom learning and the desire for new challenges are the imperative of healthy aging. Consequently, the participants of the study represent the the anti-stereotypical example of aging and age, affirming that the generalisation of various social groups (older) is unjust and ungrounded. This implies the need to redefine the old age as a period of life that is not and should not be viewed negatively