Using Pictures to Explore Children's Attitudes Toward the Elderly

Drawings of one man at four ages, 20,40,60,80 were presented to 180 children (preschool-sixth grade) in a structured interview situation in order to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward age and the elderly. Results support the hypothesis that the development of the concept of old follows a cognitivedevelopmental sequence, but even 3-year-olds held accurate concepts of age. Children reported negative and stereotypic attitudes toward age and the elderly, rejecting the elderly because of physical and behavioral stereotypes.