Addressing Stereotypes and Ageism in a Life Span Development Course

Abstract

A primary purpose of teaching is to help students become able to critically evaluate their own knowledge base to see where biases and stereotypes exist. An activity that serves to structure a class period is to expand on Fried's (1988) exercise in which students generate positive and negative stereotypes about older adults. The instructor must prepare extensively beforehand by anticipating student responses and finding psychological research and theories that address each of the anticipated stereotypes. Thus, the stereotypes serve as a springboard for a lecture on aging as well as a discussion of ageism. Student response to the activity is positive.