Children's Attitudes towards the Elderly: A Look at Greek and American Children

Abstract

Children in Greece and this country were given the CATE instrument. Greek children had more contacts within and outside the family than did most children in this country. All groups of children were able to provide realistic age estimates to photographs of men representing different ages. All groups rated the elderly more wonderful, right, clean and good than young people. Children expressed negative feelings about the process of aging and physical characteristics of the elderly. Children also had a positive affect toward old people and a concern for doing things with and for the elderly.