Table of Contents
Part 1
Resolution
References
Part 2
Justification
References
WHEREAS
ageism is defined as prejudice toward, stereotyping of, and/or discrimination
against any person or persons directly and solely as a function of their having
attained a chronological age which the social group defines as "old";
and
WHEREAS
psychologists have documented the role of ageism in assessment and treatment of
older adults, the degree to which aging does (or does not) affect human behavior
and performance, the effects of age stereotypes, the extent to which ageism is a
factor in workplace discrimination, among other concerns related to age and
behavior; and
WHEREAS
over the past several years APA has affirmed its opposition to discrimination
and stereotyping based on gender, race, physical disability, sexual orientation,
and ethnicity; and
WHEREAS
most recently (February 1999) APA affirmed by Council resolution its support of
Affirmative Action and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race,
gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and national origin; and
WHEREAS
APA embraces diversity in all efforts and programs and recognizes the dimension
of age as an important element of diversity;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association rejects ageism in all
its forms and is committed to support efforts to eliminate it from our society.
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References
Calasanti, T.M. (1999) Feminism and gerontology: Not just for women. Hallym
International Journal of Aging, 1, 44-56.
Kimmel, D.C. (1988) Ageism, psychology, and public policy. American
Psychologist, 43,175-178.
Laws, G. (1995) Understanding ageism: Lessons from feminism and postmodernism. The
Gerontologist, 35, 112-118.
Palmore, E. (1990). Ageism, negative and positive. New York: Springer.
Schaie, K.W. (1988). Ageism in psychological research. American Psychologist,
43, 179-183.
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Justification for APA Resolution on Ageism
Relevance to Psychology and Psychologists and Importance to Psychology or to Society as a
Whole
"Ageism"
is a term developed by Robert Butler (the first director of the National
Institute on Aging) in 1969 and is defined as "a systematic stereotyping of
and discrimination against people because they are old" (Achenbaum, 1985).
Ageism exists on many levels, from:
-
discriminatory
attitudes toward older adults;
-
discriminatory
behaviors against older adults;
-
prejudicial
comments and poor treatment by service providers; and
-
discrimination
of older adults by institutionalized practices and policies, such as
mandatory retirement and age-based promotions and raises (Cavanaugh,
1993). In fact, there is evidence that older adults often do not perform
well partly due to personally held beliefs that because of their age, they
cannot perform well (Rodeheaver, 1990).
There
are many negative stereotypes dealing with the psychological functioning of
older adults (Zarit, 1980) and often complaints such as anxiety, tremors,
fatigue, confusion, and irritability are frequently attributed to "old
age" without sufficient assessment (Goldstein, 1985; Edelstein &
Kalish, 2000). There are also positive stereotypes that deny real psychological
changes that occur during adult development, e.g., "Aging is just a state
of mind." (Cherry & Smith, 1998; Gatz & Pearson, 1988).
Quality
and Quantity of Psychological Data and Conceptualization Relevant to it
Psychologists
are well equipped to address both the prevalence and impact of ageism on
individuals and our society. Psychologists as researchers have already provided
evidence of the impact of ageism on psychological assessment (Edelstein &
Kalish) and treatment of older adults (Zarit, 1980). Psychologists as educators
and researchers provide the research base necessary to promote accurate
information about psychological aging. Psychologists as practitioners can use
this research base and expertise to provide the mental health services that
older individuals need. The recent development of APA's proficiency in
Geropsychology attests to the discipline's understanding of the importance of
accurate knowledge about aging in providing services to older adults. And
psychology has the responsibility to help ensure that all individuals,
regardless of their age, have access to these critical services.
In
addition, the association has been actively involved in advocating on behalf of
older adults. APA has been a part of several coalitions that have advocated on
issues of aging and has been a strong advocate of increased funding for research
on aging. The Division on Adult Development and Aging (Division 20) has also
been actively involved in promoting knowledge about age and against ageism.
Likely Degree of Consensus
Consensus
on this resolution from all sections of APA is likely. APA has had a history of
being concerned about the well being of older adults through Division 20,
through its many publications on aging, through its primary journal, Psychology
and Aging, and through its efforts in promoting public policies dealing with
aging. The association already has policy resolutions dealing with
discrimination on the basis of ethnic minority status, sex, and social class. It
now needs a similar policy for discrimination on the basis of adult age.
Likelihood of the Resolution Having a Constructive Impact on Public Opinion or Policy
Many
of the stereotypes associated with older adults are based on behavioral factors.
APA can take a leadership role in providing accurate information about advancing
age to reduce stereotypes and to eliminate decision making based on faulty
information about the aging process.
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References
Achenbaum, W.A. (1985). Societal perceptions of aging and the aged. Ion R. H.
Binstock, & E. Shanas (Eds.). Handbook of aging and the social sciences.
(2nd Edition). (pp. 129-148). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Butler, R. N. (1969). Age-ism: Another form of bigotry. The Gerontologist,
9, 243-246.
Cavanaugh, J.C. (1993). Adult development and aging. (2nd
Edition). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Cherry, K.E., & Smith, A. D. (1998). Normal memory aging. In M. Hersen &
V. B. Van Hasselt (Eds.), Handbook of Clinical Geropsychology, New York:
Plenum Press.
Edelstein, B., & Kalish, K. (2000). Clinical assessment of older adults. In
J. C. Cavanaugh & S. K. Whitbourne (Eds.). Gerontology: An
interdisciplinary perspective. (pp. 269-304). New York: Oxford University
Press.
Gatz, M.& Pearson, C.G. (1988). Ageism revised and provision of
psychological services. American Psychologist, 43, 184-189.
Goldstein, R.K. (1985). Common clinical problems in the elderly: Camouflaged by
ageism and atypical presentation. Psychiatric Annals, 15, 299-312
Rodeheaver, D. (1990). Ageism. In I.A. Parhaml, L.W. Poon, & I.C. Siegler
(Eds.). ACCESS: Aging curriculum content for education in the social and
behavioral sciences. (pp. 7.1-7.43). New York: Springer Publishing.
Zarit, S, S.H. (1980). Aging and mental disorders: Psychological approaches
to assessment and treatment. New York: Free Press.
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