AGE AND THE SELF CONCEPT

An adjective checklist, designed by selecting items which a group of "experts" agreed would differentiate younger from older persons and which was found to be adequately reliable and valid, was administered to 83 white male, VA surgical patients ranging in age from 20-69 years. Ss were asked to describe "the way you are." Derived self acceptance and self rejection scores were correlated with chronological age and with a self rating of perceived age. Responses were analyzed to identify the specific traits which differentiate between individuals on the basis of age. The findings indicate that similarities in self perception with age outweigh differences. A curvilinear relationship was found between chronological age and self acceptance supporting both the theories of life stages and time perspective. Self acceptance increases from the 20's until the 40-49 year period at which time there is a downward turn. The item analysis suggested that older persons incorporate certain of the positive stereotypes of aging into their self concepts. A description of the aging process was outlined.