There’s a small Polish village called Zalipie where practically everything is covered in painted flowers, from the houses to the barns, the bridges, and the churches. Every year since 1948, the village holds the Painted Cottage Competition.
A 90-year-old woman always joins the competition, with as much enthusiasm as the young people, showing us that limitations are often in our minds and that age is sometimes a psychological issue.
Their example teaches us a great lesson: we will face old age according to the image we have formed of it. If we believe it is a stage of loss where we can do nothing more, it will be precisely that. Curiously, the image of old age and our stereotypes are deeply linked to the relationship we established with our grandparents.
Grandparents, a key element in developing a more positive image of old age
A new study conducted at the University of Liège reveals that children who have good relationships with their grandparents are less likely to develop stereotypes toward older adults.
Psychologists asked 1,151 children between the ages of 7 and 16 to describe how they felt about their grandparents. They found that those who felt dissatisfied with the relationship were also more likely to hold biases about old age and develop a negative image of it.
These researchers found that prejudices about aging did not depend on the number of times children saw their grandparents but rather on the quality of that relationship. Therefore, grandparents are essential in shaping how children view aging.
In fact, we must not forget that grandparents play an important role in intergenerational bonding. They are not only partners with their grandchildren but often provide the understanding and support that younger, busier parents are unable to offer.
Grandparents also tend to model patience and empathetic listening, being less critical than parents and understanding their grandchildren’s mistakes. Their parenting style tends to focus more on reinforcing children’s positive qualities and boosting their self-esteem.
Stereotypes about old age, a boomerang that will come back to haunt us
Over time, aging has not been viewed in the same way. Each culture and era has developed its own interpretations of the aging process, and these beliefs have shaped how we approach personal aging and how we relate to our elders.
In primitive society, the fortunate few who survived the harsh conditions often took on specific roles within the tribe, generally becoming shamans or witch doctors, thus occupying the highest positions in the social hierarchy, becoming role models for younger people, who sought their advice and support. At that time, being old conferred power and influence.
That idea began to deteriorate in ancient Greece, where the foundations of our Western society were laid. Due to the cult of the body, old age began to be seen as a punishment. Even so, old age continued to be clothed in wisdom. The true decline began with the Renaissance, and modernity has put the finishing touches on stereotypes about aging.
In fact, it has been noted that age discrimination in the workplace is an increasingly common problem. Older people remain unemployed for longer periods of time, and when they do get a job, they are often overlooked by younger people.
Unfortunately, many young people today believe that “old people” have nothing to contribute because they don’t understand modern times. This terrible stereotype not only affects older people but will also backfire when these young people reach old age, as they will feel they have nothing to contribute and that their life is practically over.
References:
Flamion, A. et. Al. (2017) Impact of Contact With Grandparents on Children’s and Adolescents’ Views on the Elderly. Child Dev; 90(4): 1155-1169.
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