Key points

Belief in ageist stereotypes has been shown to be associated with a shorter life.

A new study probes how a certain form of ageism can paradoxically promote longer life.

By challenging society’s views of older people, you may be able to live just as long and feel more fulfilled.

When “stereotype embodiment theory” revealed that negative thoughts about getting older could shorten people’s lives (Levy, 2009), the message to the public was to reject ageist beliefs and instead focus on aging’s benefits. There are all sorts of websites now that recommend you rid your mind of all the images and thoughts linking aging with weakness and sickness. In fact, when my colleagues and I, who serve on the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Committee on Aging, developed the 2025 Reso

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