We use questionnaire data from the MIDUS study (N = 6325 and a subsample n = 2120) to examine the extent to which people in their late 20s, late 40s and late 60s think that positive characteristics apply to themselves, their age peers and other age groups. Results based on factor analysis confirmed the existence of age stereotypes, such that one constellation of characteristics (wise, caring, calm, knowledgeable, generative; “wise”) was seen as more descriptive of older adults, while another constellation of characteristics (energetic, healthy, willing to learn; “energetic”) was seen as more descriptive of younger adults. Self-evaluations were, however, highly positive and largely independent of age. As a group, younger adults saw themselves as being as “energetic” but “wiser” than their age peers, while older adults saw themselves as being more “energetic” but less “wise” than their age peers. In sum, the results suggest that self-views are relatively independent of existing age stereotypes but also indicate that the “better-than-average effect” depends on age and whether the considered characteristics represent a relative strength or weakness of one’s own age group. The results also indicate that, at the aggregate level, older adults’ tendency to use stereotypes about their age group’s weaknesses as a frame of reference for making flattering self-evaluations seems to outweigh the effects of stereotype internalization.

中文翻译：

---

年轻人感觉明智，老年人感觉精力充沛：比较年龄刻板印象和成年后的自我评价


我们使用来自 MIDUS 研究的问卷数据（ N = 6325 和子样本n = 2120）来研究 20 多岁、40 多岁和 60 多岁的人认为积极特征适用于自己、同龄人和其他年龄的人的程度组。基于因子分析的结果证实了年龄刻板印象的存在，例如一组特征（明智、有爱心、冷静、知识渊博、富有创造力；“聪明”）被认为更能描述老年人，而另一组特征（精力充沛、健康、愿意学习；“精力充沛”）被认为更能描述年轻人。然而，自我评价非常积极，并且很大程度上与年龄无关。作为一个群体，年轻人认为自己比同龄人“更有活力”但“更聪明”，而老年人则认为自己比同龄人更“有活力”但不太“聪明”。总之，结果表明，自我看法相对独立于现有的年龄刻板印象，但也表明“优于平均水平的效果”取决于年龄以及所考虑的特征是否代表了自己年龄组的相对优势或劣势。研究结果还表明，从总体上看，老年人倾向于使用对其年龄组弱点的刻板印象作为进行奉承自我评价的参考框架，这似乎超过了刻板印象内化的影响。