Stereotypes of age differences in personality traits: Universal and accurate?

Abstract

Age trajectories for personality traits are known to be similar across cultures. To address whether stereotypes of age groups reflect these age-related changes in personality, we asked participants in 26 countries (N = 3,323) to rate typical adolescents, adults, and old persons in their own country. Raters across nations tended to share similar beliefs about different age groups; adolescents were seen as impulsive, rebellious, undisciplined, preferring excitement and novelty, whereas old people were consistently considered lower on impulsivity, activity, antagonism, and Openness. These consensual age group stereotypes correlated strongly with published age differences on the five major dimensions of personality and most of 30 specific traits, using as criteria of accuracy both self-reports and observer ratings, different survey methodologies, and data from up to 50 nations. However, personal stereotypes were considerably less accurate, and consensual stereotypes tended to exaggerate differences across age groups.

Multiple standards of aging: gender-specific age stereotypes in different life domains

“…Research on perceived personality changes during the aging process shows that older persons are perceived to possess different characteristics than younger persons (e.g., Chan et al 2012;Grühn et al 2011). And even though actual gender differences in life span personality changes seem not to be pronounced (Chapman et al 2007;Ferguson 2010;Lippa 2010) it would be interesting to investigate whether they are nevertheless perceived to be there (cf.…”

The inaccuracy of national character stereotypes

“…“However,” as Swim (1994, p. 21) put it, “reasons for inaccuracy are not evidence of inaccuracy.” And, surprisingly, much of the evidence to date shows considerable accuracy in many consensual stereotypes, including those involving age (Chan et al, 2012), gender (Swim, 1994), and race (McCauley & Stitt, 1978; see reviews by Ryan, 2002; Jussim, 2012). By accuracy we mean statistical agreement between beliefs about a group and the aggregate characteristics of the group in question.…”

Cross‐cultural Studies of Personality Development

“…For example, similar age-related differences in personality are observed in other species, such as chimpanzee (King, Weiss, & Sisco, 2008). Personality-related age stereotypes, precisely the beliefs about personality differences between adolescents, adults, and older adults, were also found to be remarkably similar in samples from 26 countries (Chan et al, 2012). Yet, there are significant differences in personality development across nations, but it remains unclear whether these differences are reliably and meaningfully related to cultural factors.…”