Age-based stereotype threat: a scoping review of stereotype priming techniques and their effects on the aging process

Objectives: In the current study, we reviewed and classified the different experimental methods reported in the literature to induce age-base stereotype threat in older adults, providing a comprehensive view of the methodologies present in the literature to date. Method: The current study has been developed as a literature scoping review. The PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and CINAHL database were searched. With this approach, we assessed developments in experimental age-based stereotype manipulations in the last decades. Results: 26 articles were considered for this scoping review. Through a thematic analysis, we classified the papers into three broad categories based on the priming technique addressed: manipulation by instructions, manipulation by tests and, manipulation by mental imagery. Conclusion: Our results seem to suggest how manipulations by instructions appeared to be more largely used and capable of producing more clear performance variations on cognitive, memory, and physical tasks. Age-related stereotypes showed potentially stronger effects when they are negative, implicit, and temporally closer to the test of performance.