Scholars suggest that in order to accurately distinguish between prejudice in the older and younger populations, research needs to consider the differences between 'old-fashioned prejudice' (blatant prejudice - e.g., people of different races should be segregated) and 'modern prejudice' (less direct forms of prejudice). In this research project, Dr Kristof Dhont and colleagues explore age-related differences in prejudice. Their findings have important implications for understanding prejudice as well as for policy-makers and educators.
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Older people tend to be higher in authoritarianism and are more likely to endorse more traditional values and norms (e.g. Cornelis, Van Hiel, Roets, & Kossowska, 2009). But have you ever thought why that is?
Some researchers argue that one reason for this is that it offers older people psychological benefits-for example, higher self-esteem (e.g., Van Hiel & Brebels, 2011).. However, despite these psychological benefits, older people also seem to exhibit higher levels of prejudice than younger adults (e.g. Henry & Sears, 2009).
Older people are likely to have witnessed many instances of blatant racism compared to adolescents and young adults, which may have formed racial attitudes that persist throughout their lives. Thus, older individuals might be ‘set in their ways’, unable to translate their attitudes in terms of contemporary expressions of prejudice.
In that way, scholars suggest that in order to accurately distinguish between prejudice in the older and younger populations, research needs to consider the differences between ‘old-fashioned prejudice’ (blatant prejudice-e.g., people of different races should be segregated) and ‘modern prejudice’ (less direct forms of prejudice).
In this research project, Dr Kristof Dhont and colleagues explore age-related differences in prejudice. Their findings have important implications for understanding prejudice as well as for policy-makers and educators.
Research objectives
• To test whether age is positively related to ethnic prejudice
• To test whether age is positively related to right-wing attitudes
• To test that age is positively related to right-wing attitudes which is in turn positively related to prejudice
•(i.e., right-wing attitudes mediated the relationship between age and prejudice)
Methodology
• Dutch participants completed questionnaires for right-wing authoritarianism and subtle and blatant prejudice
• Responses from two samples were compared:
Sample 1:
• 1221 Dutch participants with a mean age of 43.9years
• 354 participants left school before the age of 18, while 729 completed higher education (225 participants failed to provide education
information).
Sample 2:
• 800 Dutch participants with a mean age of 49.5 years
• 563 participants left school before the age of 18, while 237 completed higher education
Key findings
• Age and ethnic prejudice were positively related for both blatant and subtle prejudice (Research Objective 1 confirmed)
• Age was positively related to right-wing attitudes (Research Objective 2 confirmed
• Age-related difference in prejudice was fully mediated by social-cultural right-wing attitudes (Research Objective 3 confirmed)
Impact
• New and important insight in understanding age-related differences in prejudice
• Age-related changes in right-wing attitudes are stronger than changes in prejudice
• Important implications for policy-makers and educators:
•Older person’s blatant prejudice is the result of more ‘economic’ use of available resources, which increases right-wing attitudes.
• Interventions aimed at reducing economic threat for older persons may be important in reducing prejudice and right-wing attitudes
• Interventions aimed at reducing prejudice may need to adapt their methods according to their population target: young vs older.
Definitions: Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA)
RWA: People high in RWA are in favour of maintaining traditional socially conservative values and are more likely to obey authority (which they see as legitimate). They tend to be punitive towards people who do not adhere to authority and social norms.