Knowledge, Attitude, and Psychosocial Development of Young and Old Adults

Young and old adults completed a questionnaire that measured their knowledge of normal aging and their positive attitudes toward older people. In addition, age‐appropriate Eriksonian psychosocial development was assessed (i.e., identity in young adults and integrity in old adults). Young and old adults did not differ in their knowledge of normal aging—neither was particularly well informed. Older adults had slightly—but significantly—more positive attitudes toward old people (p < .05). Young women were not more positive in attitude than young men. Psychosodal development was positively and significantly correlated with attitude in both old (r — .44) and young adults (r — .25). The implications of these findings for educational gerontology are discussed.