Effects of expressing the negative aging stereotypical thoughts on stereotypical thoughts and affective states

Abstract

Stereotypical thoughts are directly linked with discrimination and prejudice and hence to be avoided. However, previous studies have failed to establish methods to reduce stereotypical thoughts, nor investigate how they influence affective states. In this report, we used an expressive writing which influences restructuring cognitions as well as affective states and examined how stereotypes about older adults and affective states were influenced by intentional expression or suppression of stereotypical thoughts. Participants were randomly assigned to groups of intentional expression, intentional suppression of stereotypical thoughts, or the control condition. In each group, the participants first performed an expressive writing task concerning the behavior of an older person. The intentional expression group emphasized aging stereotypes, the suppression group was asked to avoid describing stereotypes about older individuals; then participants performed a stereotype rating task in which they reported their impressions of another individual after reading sentences concerning one person. Their own emotional states were reported before and after the expressive writing task and after evaluating the impressions. Results revealed no differences in ratings of aging stereotypes across the three groups of manipulated stereotypical thoughts. However, a reduction in negative affect was found in all conditions. These findings suggest that we could not identify a strategy for reducing negative aging stereotypes but we found a strategy for improving negative affect.