Are older adults perceived as morally better than middle-aged persons? Focus on the stereotype content model

Identifying and improving existing morality perceptions regarding older adults is crucial for fostering intergenerational cooperation and constructing an inclusive society. In this study, we conducted two online experiments with Japanese participants to investigate the degrees to which older adults are perceived as moral. We predicted that older adults are more likely to be perceived as morally good compared to middle-aged individuals (Hypothesis 1), and that regardless of the target person's age, individuals perceived as warm (Hypothesis 2) and competent (Hypothesis 3) are more likely to be regarded as morally good. In Study 1, participants were instructed to freely describe a typical older (aged 80 years) or middle-aged (aged 50 years) target individual. Contrary to expectations, the middle-aged target individual was perceived as morally better than the older counterpart. Meanwhile, regardless of the target individual's age, the target individuals perceived as warm and competent were more likely to be viewed as morally good. In Study 2, participants were presented with a simple vignette describing an older (aged 80 years) or middle-aged (aged 50 years) target individual, manipulating their warmth (warm/cold) and competence (competent/incompetent). The results indicated no effect of target age on moral perceptions, but warmer and/or more competent target individuals elicited higher moral perceptions. Thus, Hypothesis 1 was not supported in either study, whereas Hypotheses 2 and 3 were supported across both studies. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing moral perceptions, warmth, and competence regarding older adults to facilitate appropriate assistance from other generations.