Since the middle of the last century, the interest of psychology in anticipating social problems has focused on the development of older people and their participation in daily life.

According to sociological studies, our environment is aging by leaps and bounds. The number of older people is greater than ever and it is estimated that in 2025 there will be around 1.1 billion people over the age of 80. If the forecasts made by the United Nations are true, 13.7% of the population would be between 60 and 80 years old.

The study of aging from social psychology encompasses the psychological processes and mechanisms associated with this stage and how they are influenced culturally and socially. It considers ageing as a period in which people achieve certain achievements and grow on a psychosocial level and argues that no life span should be defined by “loss”, although some loss occurs in all of them.

Old age, stability or change?

As we age, we face many new situations to which we end up adapting. These situations make us aware of the passage of time and give us the opportunity to incorporate changes into our lives without losing the sense of stability. Proof of this is that, according to numerous studies, people maintain great stability in their self-awareness throughout their lives .

Although most changes are incorporated into our self-awareness without losing a sense of continuity, some situations provoke an experience of rupture and mark the passage to a new stage.

The most relevant reminders are the corporal ones (pains and illnesses during old age), the symbolic ones (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.), the generational ones (related to family and friends), the environmental ones (related to public life and work) and the vital ones (personal experiences). One of the most relevant reminders is retirement which, on the one hand, represents the opportunity to be autonomous and independent, but on the other hand imposes a break with roles and habits that have been maintained for years, signalling the end of the middle-age stage and the beginning of old age.

Ageism or discrimination against older people

People tend to develop stereotypical beliefs about the age of individuals, including personality, social roles or behaviours “typical” of each life stage. These beliefs are learned at a very early age and are passively and actively transmitted, for example, by associating grey hair with old age or by labelling certain clothing or behaviour in older people as “inappropriate”.

According to a study by Cuddy, Norton and Fiske, people over 70 are perceived as more incompetent, dependent, friendly, calm and patient , as well as having less mental and physical well-being. These stereotypes, regardless of their connotation, encourage a simplified and erroneous view of old age, but social psychology has found two interventions that can reduce them. First, promoting contact between different generations in order to foster mutual understanding and interdependence. Second, educating in values and promoting respectful treatment of people of different ages.

Combating the harmful effects of social ageing

Often, people who see their social self-esteem damaged set in motion strategies that, unconsciously, can help develop a positive social identity and improve subjective well-being . Such strategies are applicable to older persons who are victims of stereotypes related to old age.

1. Postponing social self-categorization

This strategy, which is common in middle-aged people and in the initial phases of old age , consists of postponing self-categorisation as a member of the old age group , that is, shifting the cut-off point from which old age begins as you grow older.

2.Relative Illusory Optimism

This strategy, also known as self-enhancement of the self, represents a way of reacting to the threat to self-esteem caused by belonging to the group of older people . It consists of perceiving oneself more favourably than the rest of people of the same age, whether on a physical, social or psychological level.

It was studied by Heckhausen and Krueger. In their research, people in the 60+ age group were the only ones who responded differently for themselves and the rest of their age group. Some of the differences they noted were that they would lose their positive attributes more slowly than others and that it would take longer to suffer the negative effects of aging.

3.Absolute illusionary optimism

When we find ourselves in a situation of uncertainty, people tend to exaggerate our expectations of control and develop an optimistic vision of the future. This strategy is often used when in addition to uncertainty there is a feeling of vulnerability, as for example in people with health problems.

The difference between relative and absolute illusory optimism is that in the latter, the positive image of oneself is constructed without the need for comparison with others . Both types of optimism decrease the levels of stress and anguish, and their absence is related to depressive and anxious symptoms.

4.Asymmetric social comparisons

They can be “down” when compared to others of the same age but in worse condition, or “up” when compared to people in better condition. In the first case, they allow for the regulation of negative feelings that cause the deterioration of old age and improve self-esteem. They are common when it comes to difficulties or irreversible losses , such as physical ageing or the loss of a loved one.

In contrast, upward comparisons bring hope and motivation to deal with a situation that causes discomfort but has a remedy, as they provide information on how others solved a problem.

Other specific strategies for older people are socio-emotional selection (choosing emotionally satisfying life experiences), compensatory mechanisms (using alternative resources to compensate for health losses, such as a companion or instrumental supports) and underestimation of health (minimizing the importance of symptoms, considering them normal for one’s age).