The Detrimental Effects of Ageism on the Mental Health of Older Adults

This essay explores the concept of ageism, its origins, and its detrimental psychological effects on the elderly population. Defined as the stereotyping and discrimination based on age, ageism leads to social isolation, feelings of rejection, and a sense of unwantedness among older adults. The essay highlights how ageism contributes to increased fears of death and dependency, impacting the mental health and overall well-being of the elderly. It further discusses the importance of exposing younger generations to the realities faced by older adults to foster compassion and reduce negative perceptions, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and supportive society for the aging population. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY OF AGEING
PSYCHOLOGY OF AGEING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PSYCHOLOGY OF AGEING
Ageism refers to the matters that are related to the stereotyping as well as the
discrimination of the individuals who have been living in the given society based on their ages.
The discrimination or the stereotyping of the individuals is generally either systematic or casual.
The term ageism was initially coined by the eminent psychiatrist, Robert Neil Butler in the year
1969 (Bergman & Bodner, 2015). The term was used in order to describe the discrimination that
was based on the senior population of the concerned area. The term also aimed at the distinction
of the aged people on the grounds of racism and sexism. The following paper aims to discuss the
negative effects of ageism on the concerned people in discussion, the elderly population of the
country.
The concept of ageism as discussed by the eminent psychiatrist, Robert Neil Butler
attempts a discrimination of the older citizens of the country on the basis of the age of the
concerned person, the process of aging among the older population and the other factors that
accompany the old age of the concerned employees. The concept of ageism also discusses the
various discriminatory practices that are generally implemented on the older generation who
have been residing within the country (Gamliel & Levi-Belz, 2016). The ageism also refers to
the various policies and rules that are followed by the concerned organizations in relation to the
older population of the country. The term ageism is also found to be implemented for the
children as well as the adolescents. The ageism in case of the children and the adolescent
population of a given area refers to the denial of certain rights to the concerned population. The
ageism in case of the children further includes the ignorance of the behavioral traits of the
concerned person due to their age (Minichiello, Browne & Kendig, 2000). However, the term as
well as the concept of the ageism is majorly recognized for the aged people of the country. The
older generation within the country is known to have been more ageist in their outlook towards

2PSYCHOLOGY OF AGEING
life. The major reasons of this behavior might be attributed to the fears of death as well as the
fear of being heavily dependent on the people around them (Bergman & Bodner, 2015). The
ageism within the older generation might be coped up through the avoidance by the surrounding
people, the segregation of the older generation as well as the rejection that is faced by the aged
population of the area in discussion. The ageism mechanisms might also be covert as well as
passive in nature.
The negative impacts of the ageism on the elderly in the society refers to the dreadful
stage within the life of the older person. The old people within the society are known to have
been suffering from the various types of fears like the fear of being isolated from the younger
sections of the society. The older generation face huge problems within the society regarding
their ability to access the various facilities within the society (Gamliel & Levi-Belz, 2016). The
concerned section of the society is known to have been facing a number of different issues in the
matters that are related to the facilities of housing, the low-levels of the income, the measures of
the forced incomes of the aged population as well as the facilities that are related to the transport
within the chosen area.
Minichiello, Browne and Kendig (2000) argue that the older people who were
interviewed for the completion of their study were known to have been extremely aware of their
ages. This had led to the conditions wherein the older population were discriminated against due
to their ages. The aged population were made to realize the fact that they have reached the fag
end of their lives and thus are discriminated. The old people are always seen to be excluded from
the various festivities as well as from their families. This majorly affects the psyche of the older
population thereby leading to the conditions wherein they might feel lonely and dejected. A
certain section of the older people within the population of the given area are known to develop

3PSYCHOLOGY OF AGEING
the new views towards their life and thus help in providing their peers with a proper goal towards
life.
Bergman and Bodner (2015) opine that the concept of ageism is majorly associated to the
loss of the compassion towards the older generation of the country. The older population within
the country are known to be viewed as incapacitated. This also leads the older men to develop
the feeling that they lack a proper efficiency in their tasks. This develops a sense of
unwantedness within the older population. The older population also faces a huge amount of
desertation from the concerned juniors during their years of frailty. The older generation thus
lacks the proper partners with whom they might share their feelings. Thus, the major part of the
older population faces loneliness due to the lack of the proper sensitivity among the residents of
the chosen location (Minichiello, Browne & Kendig, 2000). This results in the older population
having major thoughts regarding their death as well as their mortality. This might further lead to
the depression among the concerned people who have been living in the area. The activation of
these feelings of death might lead to the reduction of the compassion of the younger generation
(Gamliel & Levi-Belz, 2016). The exposition of the younger generation to the realistic accounts
and life-events of the people would help them in the reduction of the negativity and their fear
regarding the old age.
Thus, from the above discussion, it might be derived that the older people face several
issues due to the ageism that is depicted towards them. The concept of ageism within the society
at large majorly affects the psyche of the older population thereby leading to the conditions
wherein they might feel lonely and dejected. The ageism also leads to the severe depression
among the concerned aged population of the country. In order to avoid the ageist conditions, the

4PSYCHOLOGY OF AGEING
younger generation should be exposed to the real-time incidents that are faced by the aged
population.

5PSYCHOLOGY OF AGEING
References
Bergman, Y. S., & Bodner, E. (2015). Ageist attitudes block young adults’ ability for
compassion toward incapacitated older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 27(9),
1541-1550.
Gamliel, E., & Levi-Belz, Y. (2016). To end life or to save life: ageism moderates the effect of
message framing on attitudes towards older adults’ suicide. International
psychogeriatrics, 28(8), 1383-1390.
Minichiello, V., Browne, J., & Kendig, H. (2000). Perceptions and consequences of ageism:
views of older people. Ageing & Society, 20(3), 253-278.