Unexpected ethnic differences emerge as well: specifically, South- and East Asian-Americans score higher than
White, Latino, and Black Americans. These initial findings /C0in addition to the Indian data cited above /C0suggest
that Eastern cultures are not as reverent of their elders as lay beliefs would suggest (North & Fiske, under
review).
Construct/Factor Analytic
The first sample ( n5437) rated their agreement with 41 prescriptive statements targeting older people. An
exploratory factor analysis found a 3-factor solution, best fitting 20 items. Additionally, confirmatory factor analy-
sis measures (RMSEA, IFI, CFI, NLI) indicated a 3-factor model to be a good fit for the data. Responses from the
next three samples replicated these trends, in addition to adding supplemental demographic (above) and predic-
tive results (below). As noted, each of the three factors emphasizes prescriptive, ‘should’-based beliefs concerning
elders’ use of social resources, each likely to be endorsed particularly by younger people.
Criterion/Predictive
As noted, an experimental paradigm presented participants with older targets who either adhered to or vio-
lated prescriptive, SIC-based stereotypes (such as refusing to retire). As expected, SIC scores significantly pre-
dicted reactions toward the prescription-violating older targets, such that participants who scored higher were
more resentful ( North & Fiske, 2013b ).
Location
North, M.S., & Fiske, S.T. (2013b). A prescriptive, intergenerational-tension ageism scale: Succession, Identity,
and Consumption. Psychological Assessment, 25 (3), 706 /C0713.
Results and Comments
The first prescriptive, intergenerational-tension ageism measure, SIC departs from existing scales, in both focus
(prescriptive ‘shoulds’ instead of content-based ‘ares’) and findings (consistent participant age trends do not
emerge with other ageism measures). In gauging stances on emergent issues /C0such as those surrounding man-
datory retirement, Social Security, and healthcare /C0the scale also offers greater contemporary societal relevance
than do existing measures.
SUCCESSION, IDENTITY, AND CONSUMPTION SCALE OF
PRESCRIPTIVE AGEISM
Instructions: ‘Please rate your level of agreement
with the following statements’ using the response scale:
1,disagree strongly ,2 ,disagree ,3 ,disagree slightly , 4, agree
slightly, 5, agree, 6, agree strongly.
Factor 1: Consumption
1.Doctors spend too much time treating sickly older
people.*
2.Older people are too big a burden on the healthcare
system.*
3.Older people are often too much of a burden on
families.
4.At a certain point, older people’s maximum benefit to
society is passing along with their resources.
5.Older people shouldn’t be so miserly with their
money if younger relatives need it.
6.Older people don’t really need to get the best seats
on buses and trains.
7.AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
wastes charity money.Factor 2: Succession
8.If it weren’t for older people opposed to changing
the way things are, we could probably progress
much more rapidly as a society.
9.The older generation has an unfair amount of
political power compared to younger people.
10.Most older people don’t know when to make way
for younger people.1
11.Most older workers don’t know when it’s time to
make way for the younger generation.1
12.Older people are often too stubborn to realize they
don’t function like they used to.
13.Younger people are usually more productive than
older people at their jobs.
14.Job promotions shouldn’t be based on older
workers’ experience rather than their productivity.
15.It is unfair that older people get to vote on issues
that will impact younger people much more.711 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
VI. SOCIOCULTURAL INTERACTION AND CONFLICT