Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ageism and Age Discrimination at the Workplace—a Psychological Perspective

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Vorurteile im Arbeitsleben

Abstract

We all have heard that the world population in industrialized countries has been—and will be—going through a stark demographic change. Specifically, such a shift in the age structure encompasses a decrease in the proportion of younger people coupled with an increased number of older adults in the population. How this resultant “aging world” affects different spheres of social and economic life has been a topic of discussion for years. The workforce and the labor force participation is one of those spheres that have been marked by changes in the age structure [28, 66, 67]. For example, younger and older adults are now working together as never before, leading organizations to work on strategies to deal with intergenerational tensions and to foster good relations between old and young co-workers. In this regard, questions arise such as what are the consequences of the increasing number of older adults for the work domain. Is it the case that older adults face more challenges in the workplace and in the job market? In this chapter, we address these topics by discussing the impacts of the shift in the age structure in the work context and the associated difficulties faced by older adults in the workplace. The topic of ageism and age discrimination in the workplace, their determinants and consequences, is specially relevant for this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Abuladze, L., & Perek- Białas, J. (2018). Measures of ageism in the labour market in international social studies. In L. Ayalon & C. Tesch-Römer (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on ageism (pp. 461–492). Switzerland: Springer Open. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73820-8.

  2. Allport, G. W. (1954). The nature of prejudice. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Avery, D. R., McKay, P. F., & Wilson, D. C. (2007). Engaging the aging workforce: The relationship between perceived age similarity, satisfaction with coworkers, and employee engagement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92, 1542–1556. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.6.1542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ayalon, L. (2014). Perceived age, gender, and racial/ethnic discrimination in Europe: Results from the European social survey. Educational Gerontology, 40, 499–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ayalon, L., & Tesch-Römer, C. (2018). Introduction to the section: Ageism—Concept and origins. In L. Ayalon & C. Tesch-Römer (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on ageism (pp. 1–10). Switzerland: Springer Open. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73820-8.

  6. Bal, A. C., Reiss, A. E. B., Rudolph, C. W., & Baltes, B. B. (2011). Examining positive and negative perceptions of older workers: A meta-analysis. The journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66, 687–698. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbr056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Baltes, M. M., Burgess, R. L., & Stewart, R. B. (1980). Independence and dependence in self-care behaviors in nursing home residents: An operant-observational study. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 3, 489–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Baltes, M. M., & Reisenzein, R. (1986). The social world in long-term care institutions: Psychosocial control toward dependency? In M. M. Baltes & P. B. Baltes (Eds.), The psychology of control and aging (pp. 315–343). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Berger, E. D. (2009). Managing age discrimination: An examination of the techniques used when seeking employment. The Gerontologist, 49, 317–332. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnp031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Brandtstädter, J., & Rothermund, K. (2002). The life-course dynamics of goal pursuit and goal adjustment: A two-process framework. Developmental Review, 22(1), 117–150. https://doi.org/10.1006/drev.2001.0539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Brauer, M., Wasel, W., & Niedenthal, P. (2000). Implicit and explicit components of prejudice. Review of General Psychology, 4(1), 79–101. https://doi.org/10.1037//10S9-2680.4.1.79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bugental, D. B., & Hehman, J. A. (2007). Ageism: A review of research and policy implications. Social Issues and Policy Review, 1, 173–216. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-2409.2007.00007.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Butler, R. (1969). Age-Ism: Another form of bigotry. The Gerontologist, 9, 243–246. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/9.4_Part_1.243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bytheway, B. (1995). Ageism: Rethinking ageing series. Buckinghan: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Cameron, C. D., Brown-Iannuzzi, J. L., & Payne, B. K. (2012). Sequential priming measures of implicit social cognition: A meta-analysis of associations with behavior and explicit attitudes. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16, 330–350. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868312440047.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Casper, C., Rothermund, K., & Wentura, D. (2011). The activation of specific facets of age stereotypes depends on individuating information. Social Cognition, 29, 393–414. https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2011.29.4.393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Dasgupta, N., & Greenwald, A. G. (2001). On the malleability of automatic attitudes: Combating automatic prejudice with images of admired and disliked individuals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 800–814. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.81.5.800.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Davey, J. (2014). Age discrimination in the workplace. Policy Quarterly, 10(3), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.26686/pq.v10i3.4502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. de Paula Couto, M. C. P., & Wentura, D. (2012). Automatically activated facets of ageism: Masked evaluative priming allows for a differentiation of age-related prejudice. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 852–863. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.1912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. de Paula Couto, M. C. P., & Wentura, D. (2017). Implicit ageism. In T. D. Nelson (Eds.), Ageism, stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (2nd ed., pp. 37–76). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Derous, E., & Decoster, J. (2017). Implicit age cues in resumes: Subtle effects on hiring discrimination. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1321. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Diekman, A., & Hirnisey, L. (2007). The effect of context on the silver ceiling: A role congruity perspective on prejudiced responses. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 1353–1366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Duncan, C., & Loretto, W. (2004). Never the right age? Gender and age-based discrimination in employment. Gender Work and Organization, 11, 95–115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0432.2004.00222.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Eagly, A. H., & Diekman, A. B. (2005). What is the problem? Prejudice as an attitude-in-context. In J. F. Dovidio, P. Glick, & L. Rudman (Eds.), On the nature of prejudice: Fifty years after Allport (pp. 19–35). Malden: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  25. European Commission. (2011). Synthesis report I—2011. Older workers, discrimination, and employment. http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/files/sen_synthesisreport2011_en.pdf. Accessed 29 Sept. 2018.

  26. Fazio, R. H., & Olson, M. A. (2003). Implicit measures in social cognition research: Their meaning and use. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 297–327. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Fazio, R. H., Sanbonmatsu, D. M., Powell, M. C., & Kardes, F. R. (1986). On the automatic activation of attitudes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 229–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Federal Statistical Office. (2016). Older people in Germany and the EU. Wiesbaden: Statistisches Bundesamt, Federal Statistical Office.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Fiske, S. T., Cuddy, A. J. C., Glick, P., & Xu, J. (2002). A model of (often mixed) stereotype content: Competence and warmth respectively follow from status and competition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 878–902. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.82.6.878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Garstka, T. A., Schmitt, M. T., Branscombe, N. R., & Hummert, M. L. (2004). How young and older adults differ in their responses to perceived age discrimination. Psychology and Aging, 19, 326–335. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.19.2.326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Gioaba, I., & Krings, F. (2017). Impression management in the job interview: An effective way of mitigating discrimination against older applicants? Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 770. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Gordon, R. A., & Arvey, R. (2004). Age bias in laboratory and field settings: A meta-analytic investigation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 34, 468–492. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2004.tb02557.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Gow, A. J., Corley, J., Starr, J. M., & Deary, I. J. (2013). Which social network or support factors are associated with cognitive abilities in old age? Gerontology, 59, 454–463. https://doi.org/10.1159/000351265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Greenberg, J., Schimel, J., & Martens, A. (2002). Ageism: Denying the face of the future. In T. D. Nelson (Eds.), Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 27–48). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Greenwald, A. G., & Banaji, M. R. (1995). Implicit social cognition: Attitudes, self-esteem, and stereotypes. Psychological Review, 102(1), 4–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Greenwald, A. G., McGhee, D. E., & Schwartz, J. L. K. (1998). Measuring individual differences in implicit cognition: The implicit association test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1464–1480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.6.1464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Greenwald, A. G., Poehlman, T. A., Uhlmann, E. L., & Banaji, M. R. (2009). Understanding and using implicit association test: III: Meta-analysis of predictive validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 17–41. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Harris, K., Krygsman, S., Waschenko, J., & Rudman, D. B. (2018). Ageism and the older worker: A scoping review. The Gerontologist, 58, e1–e14. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Hassell, B., & Perrewé, P. (1993). An examination of the relationship between older workers’ perceptions of age discrimination and employee psychological states. Journal of Managerial Issues, 5(1), 109–120. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40604173.

  40. Hess, T. M., Auman, C., Colcombe, S. J., & Rahhal, T. A. (2003). The impact of stereotype threat on age differences in memory performance. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 58, P3–P11. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/58.1.P3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Hofmann, W., Gawronski, B., Gschwendner, T., Le, H., & Schmitt, M. (2005). A meta-analysis on the correlation between the implicit association test and explicit self- report measures. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 1369–1385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Horton, S., Baker, J., Pearce, G. W., & Deakin, J. M. (2008). On the malleability of performance: Implications for seniors. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 27(4), 446–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Hummert, M. L., Garstka, T. A., O’Brien, L. T., Greenwald, A. G., & Mellott, D. S. (2002). Using the implicit association test to measure age differences in implicit social cognitions. Psychology and Aging, 17, 482–495. https://doi.org/10.1037//0882-7974.17.3.482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. James, J. B., McKechnie, S., Swanberg, J., & Besen, E. (2013). Exploring the workplace impact of intentional/unintentional age discrimination. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 28, 907–927. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-06-2013-0179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Kaufman, M. C., Krings, F., & Sczesny, S. (2016). Looking too old? How an older age appearance reduces chances of being hired. British Journal of Management, 27, 727–739. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Kaufmann, M. C., Krings, F., Zebrowitz, L. A., & Sczesny, S. (2017). Age bias in selection decisions: The role of facial appearance and fitness impressions. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 2065. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02065.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Kite, M. E., & Johnson, B. T. (1988). Attitudes toward older and younger adults: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging, 3, 233–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Kite, M. E., Stockdale, G. D., Whitley, B. E., Jr., & Johnson, B. T. (2005). Attitudes toward younger and older adults: An updated meta-analytic review. Journal of Social Issues, 61, 241–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Kornadt, A. E., & Rothermund, K. (2012). Internalization of age stereotypes into the self-concept via future self-views: A general model and domain-specific differences. Psychology and Aging, 27, 164–172. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Kornadt, A. E., Meissner, F., & Rothermund, K. (2016). Implicit and explicit age stereotypes for specific life-domains across the life span: Distinct patterns and age group differences. Experimental Aging Research, 42, 195–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Kroon, A. C. (2015). Age for change: Tackling ageism in the workplace. The European Health Psychologist, 17(4), 179–184.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Levy, B. (2009). Stereotype embodiment: A psychosocial approach to aging. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(6), 332–336. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01662.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Lin, X., Bryant, C., & Boldero, J. (2010). Measures for assessing student attitudes toward older people. Educational Gerontology, 37, 12–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601270903534796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Malinen, S., & Johnston, L. (2013). Workplace ageism: Discovering hidden bias. Experimental Aging Research, 39, 445–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2013.808111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. McCann, R., & Giles, H. (2002). Ageism in the workplace: A communication perspective. In T. Nelson (Eds.), Ageism—Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 163–199). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Meissner, F., & Rothermund, K. (2013). Estimating the contributions of associations and recoding in the Implicit Association Test and ReAL model for the IAT. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(1), 45–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Miller, C. T., & Kaiser, C. R. (2001). A theoretical perspective on coping stigma. Journal of Social Issues, 57(1), 73–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Montepare, J. M., & Zebrowitz, L. A. (2002). A social-developmental view of ageism. In T. Nelson (Eds.), Ageism—Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 77–125). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Moors, A., Spruyt, A., & De Houwer, J. (2010). In search of a measure that qualifies as implicit: Recommendations based on a decompositional view of automaticity. In B. Gawronski & K. B. Payne (Eds.), Handbook of implicit social cognition: Measurement, theory, and applications (pp. 19–37). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Nicholson, N. R. (2012). A review of social isolation: An important but underassessed condition in older adults. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 33, 137–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-012-0271-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. North, M. S., & Fiske, S. T. (2012). An inconvenienced youth? Ageism and its potential intergenerational roots. Psychological Bulletin, 138(5), 982–997. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. North, M. S., & Fiske, S. T. (2013). A prescriptive intergenerational-tension ageism scale: Succession, identity, and consumption (SIC). Psychological Assessment, 25(3), 706–713. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Nosek, B. A., Banaji, M. R., & Greenwald, A. G. (2002). Harvesting implicit group attitudes and beliefs from a demonstration web site. Group Dynamics, 6, 101–115. https://doi.org/10.1037//1089-2699.6.1.101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Nosek, B. A., Greenwald, A. G., & Banaji, M. R. (2005). Understanding and using the implicit association test: II. Method variables and construct validity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2, 166–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167204271418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Nussbaum, J. F., Pitts, M. J., Huber, F. N., Krieger, J. R. L., & Ohs, J. E. (2005). Ageism and ageist language across the life span: Intimate relationships and non-intimate interactions. Journal of Social Issues, 61, 287–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. OECD. (1998). Work force ageing: Consequences and policy responses. Ageing Working Paper, AWP4.1. Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  67. OECD. (2006). Live longer, work longer. Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264035881-en.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  68. Palmore, E. (1999). Ageism: Positive and negative (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Palmore, E. (2001). The ageism survey: First findings. The Gerontologist, 41, 572–575. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/41.5.572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Palmore, E. (2003). Ageism comes of age. The Gerontologist, 43, 418–420. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/43.3.418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Palmore, E. (2004). Research note: Ageism in Canada and the United States. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 19, 41–46. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JCCG.0000015098.62691.ab.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Pasupathi, M., & Löckenhoff, C. E. (2002). Ageist behavior. In T. D. Nelson (Eds.), Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 201–246). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Payne, B. K., Cheng, C. M., Govorun, O., & Stewart, B. D. (2005). An inkblot for attitudes: Affect misattribution as implicit measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 277–293. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.89.3.277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Posthuma, R. A., & Campion, M. A. (2009). Age stereotypes in the workplace: Common stereotypes, moderators, and future research directions. Journal of Management, 35, 158–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Posthuma, R. A., Wagstaff, M. F., & Campion, M. A. (2012). Age stereotypes and workplace age discrimination: A framework for future research. In W. C. Borman & J. W. Hedge (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Work and Aging (pp. 298–312). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Rothbaum, F., Weisz, J. R., & Snyder, S. S. (1982). Changing the world and changing the self: A two-process model of perceived control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 5–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.42.1.5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Rothermund, K., & Brandstädter, J. (2003). Age stereotypes and self-views in later life: Evaluating rival assumptions. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 549–554. https://doi.org/10.1080/01650250344000208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Rothermund, K., Teige-Mocigemba, S., Gast, A., & Wentura, D. (2009). Eliminating the influence of recoding in the implicit association test: The recoding-free implicit association test (IAT-RF). Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62(1), 84–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Rothermund, K., & Wentura, D. (2007). Altersnormen und Altersstereotype. In J. Brandtstädter & U. Lindenberger (Eds.), Entwicklung über die Lebensspanne—Ein Lehrbuch (pp. 540–68). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Rupp, D. E., Vodanovich, S. J., & Credé, M. (2006). Age bias in the workplace: The impact of ageism and causal attributions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 36, 1337–1364. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0021-9029.2006.00062.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Schaie, K. W. (1993). Ageist language in psychological research. American Psychologist, 48, 49–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  82. Schermuly, C. C., Deller, J., & Büsch, V. (2014). A research note on age discrimination and the desire to retire: The mediating effect of psychological empowerment. Research on Aging, 36, 382–393. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027513508288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  83. Steele, C. M., Spencer, S. J., & Aronson, J. (2002). Contending with group image: The psychology of stereotype and social identity threat. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 34, pp. 379–440). San Diego: Academic. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(02)80009-0.

  84. Stypińska, J., & Nikander, P. (2018). Ageism and age discrimination in the labour market: A macrostructural perspective. In L. Ayalon & C. Tesch-Römer (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on ageism (pp. 91–108). Switzerland: Springer Open. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73820-8.

  85. Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In S. Worchel & W. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 7–24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Truxillo, D. M., Cadiz, D. M., & Hammer, L. B. (2015). Supporting the aging workforce: A review and recommendations for workplace intervention research. The Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 2, 351–381. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032414-111435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  87. Vogt Yuan, A. S. (2007). Perceived age discrimination and mental health. Social Forces, 86(1), 291–311. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.2007.0113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  88. Voss, P., Bodner, E., & Rothermund, K. (2018). Ageism: The relationship between age stereotypes and age discrimination. In L. Ayalon & C. Tesch-Römer (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on ageism (pp. 11–31). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  89. Voss, P., & Rothermund, K. (2018). Altersdiskriminierung in institutionellen Kontexten. In B. Kracke & P. Noack (Eds.), Handbuch Entwicklungs- und Erziehungspsychologie (pp. 509–538). Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  90. Wentura, D., & Brandtstädter, J. (2003). Age stereotypes in younger and older women: Analyses of accommodative shifts with a sentence-priming task. Experimental Psychology, 50, 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1027//1618-3169.50.1.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  91. Wilkinson, J. A., & Ferraro, K. F. (2002). Thirty years of ageism research. In T. D. Nelson (Eds.), Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 339–358). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  92. Wilson, T. D., Lindsey, S., & Schooler, T. Y. (2000). A model of dual attitudes. Psychological Review, 107(1), 101–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.107.1.101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  93. Zebrowitz, L. A., Franklin, R. G., Jr., Boshyan, J., Luevano, V., Agrigoroaei, S., Milosavljevic, B., & Lachman, M. E. (2014). Older and younger adults’ accuracy in discerning health and competence in older and younger faces. Psychology and Aging, 29, 454–468. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Rothermund, K., & Mayer, A.-K. (2009). Altersdiskriminierung – Erscheinungsformen, Erklärungen und Interventionsansätze. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.

    Google Scholar 

  95. Bal, P. M., de Lange, A. H., Van der Heijden, B. I. J. M., Zacher, H., Oderkerk, F. A., & Otten, S. (2015). Young at heart, old at work? Relations between age, (meta-)stereotypes, self-categorization, and retirement attitudes. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 91, 35–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2015.09.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  96. Cheung, C., Kam, P. K., & Man-hung Ngan, R. (2011). Age discrimination in the labour market from the perspectives of employers and older workers. International Social Work, 54, 118–136. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872810372368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  97. Degner, J., & Wentura, D. (2011). Types of automatically activated prejudice: Assessing possessor- versus other-relevant valence in the evaluative priming task. Social Cognition, 29, 182–209. https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2011.29.2.182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  98. Gawronski, B., Cunningham, W. A., LeBel, E. P., & Deutsch, R. (2010). Attentional influences on affective priming: Does theory influence spontaneous evaluations of multiply categorisable objects? Cognition and Emotion, 24, 1008–1025. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930903112712-ks.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  99. Golub, S. A., Filipowicz, A., & Langer, E. J. (2002). Acting your age. In T. D. Nelson (Eds.), Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 277–294). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  100. Kistler, E., & Mendius, H. G. (2002). Demographic change in the world of work—Opportunities for an innovative approach to work—A German point of view. Stuttgart: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung.

    Google Scholar 

  101. Kluge, A., & Krings, F. (2008). Attitudes toward older workers and human resource practices. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 67, 61–64. https://doi.org/10.1024/1421-0185.67.1.61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  102. Maurer, T. J., Barbeite, F. G., Weiss, E. M., & Lippstreu, M. (2008). New measures of stereotypical beliefs about older workers’ ability and desire for development: Exploration among employees age 40 and over. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23, 395–418. https://doi.org/10.1108/026839408108069024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  103. Naegele, L., De Tavernier, W., & Moritz, H. (2018). Work environment and the origin of ageism. In L. Ayalon & C. Tesch-Römer (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on ageism (pp. 73–90). Switzerland: Springer Open. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73820-8.

  104. Ng, T. W. H., & Feldman, D. C. (2012). Evaluating six common stereotypes about older workers with meta-analytical data. Personnel Psychology, 65, 821–858. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  105. Perdue, C. W., & Gurtman, M. B. (1990). Evidence for the automaticity of ageism. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 26, 199–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1031(90)90035-K.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  106. Rabl, T. (2010). Age, discrimination and achievement motives: A study of German employees. Personnel Review, 39, 448–467. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483481011045416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  107. van Dalen, H. P., Henkens, K., & Schippers, J. (2009). Dealing with older workers in Europe: A comparative survey of employers’ attitudes and actions. Journal of European Social Policy, 19, 47–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958928708098523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany

    Maria Clara de Paula Couto & Klaus Rothermund

Authors
  1. Maria Clara de Paula Couto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Klaus Rothermund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Clara de Paula Couto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Personal und Arbeit, Helmut-Schmidt-Universität, Hamburg, Germany

    Michel E. Domsch

  2. Fachbereich Maschinenbau und Wirtschaft, TH Lübeck, Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

    Désirée H. Ladwig

  3. Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt, Natur und Digitalisierung des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    Florian C. Weber

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

de Paula Couto, M.C., Rothermund, K. (2019). Ageism and Age Discrimination at the Workplace—a Psychological Perspective. In: Domsch, M., Ladwig, D., Weber, F. (eds) Vorurteile im Arbeitsleben. Springer Gabler, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-59232-8_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-59232-8_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer Gabler, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-59231-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-59232-8

  • eBook Packages: Business and Economics (German Language)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation