Understanding Communication & Aging Ch. 4

“Blame the Victim” Effect

The act of assuming someone is impaired after observing them being spoken to in a patronizing manner

Age stereotypes in interaction model

Model that suggests that older people are subjected to patronizing talk when negatively stereotyped more than those who are positively stereotyped

Communication Accommodation Theory

Theory that explains when and why we adjust our speech patterns based on who we talk to

Communicative Ecology Model

Model linking communication about aging with individuals’ experiences of aging

Helps us consider how our messages correspond with our emotions and aging about our own aging process

Communication Predicament of Aging Model

Model that describes how older adults suffer negative consequences from being patronized

Disclosure of Chronological Age

The process of telling someone how old you are (Older people do this more than younger people)

Face Theory

An approach to self presentation and social interaction

Emphasizes importance of “looking good” to others (positive face) and maintaining autonomy (negative face)

Overaccommodation

Shifting one’s speech to adjust their perceived stereotype of the other person based on their group membership

Ex: Using patronizing speech for an older person

Painful Self Disclosure

The act of disclosing painful and personal information

Older people do this a lot with strangers than young people

Ex: Talking about a personal illness or death

Patronizing Speech

Talking to an older adult in a way that suggests they are incompetent (like how one talks to babies or pets)

Also called overaccommodation

Underaccommodation

Failing to adjust your communication style enough for the person to fully understand

Ex: Talking away from someone who has a hearing loss