The two faces of age identity

Weiß D, Lang F (2012)


Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

Original Authors: Lang Frieder R., Weiss D.

Publisher: Hogrefe

Book Volume: 25

Pages Range: 5-14

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000050

Abstract

As people grow older they develop a sense of a dual age identity, referring to their age group and generation (Weiss & Lang, 2009). Two studies (N = 37, 60-85 years and N = 104, 65-88 years of age) compared and contrasted older adults' cognitive representations of two types of age cohort groups (age group vs. generation). Analyses reveal that age-group identity was more frequently associated with loss and decline, whereas generation identity was more frequently associated with positive characteristics and increased levels of agency. Findings also show that generation identity may - especially in later adulthood - serve as a means to compensate for loss. The self-protective function of the dual age identity and the dynamic and flexible nature of identification are further discussed. © 2012 Hogrefe Publishing.

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How to cite

APA:

Weiß, D., & Lang, F. (2012). The two faces of age identity. GeroPsych, 25(1), 5-14. https://dx.doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000050

MLA:

Weiß, David, and Frieder Lang. "The two faces of age identity." GeroPsych 25.1 (2012): 5-14.

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