Re‐Vision of Older Television Characters: A Stereotype‐Awareness Intervention

This study examines whether greater television exposure predicts older individuals' more negative images of aging, and whether an intervention based on maintaining a television diary of viewing impressions will increase their awareness of the stereotypical and infrequent manner in which elders are presented. Seventy‐six individuals, aged 60 to 92, participated. As expected, all participants showed a correspondence between greater television exposure and more negative images of aging. Also as expected, the intervention‐group participants developed a greater awareness of how elders are presented on television. Further, the intervention‐group participants expressed their intention to watch less television in the future. These findings suggest that the promotion of awareness provides a means of helping elders confront ageism .