Fear of growing old, or a hatred for or fear of older adults
Gerontophobia is the hatred orfear of older adults, or a fear of age-related self-degeneration (similar togerascophobia). The term comes from theGreek γέρων –gerōn, "old man"[1] and φόβος –phobos, "fear".[2] Gerontophobia that stems from a fear of aging has been linked tothanatophobia, as fear of old age can be a precursor to fear of death.[3] Gerontophobia can be caused by stereotypes of older adults displayed in the media.[4]
Discriminatory aspects ofageism have been strongly linked to gerontophobia. This irrational fear or hatred of older adults can be associated with the expectation that someday all young people including oneself will be old inevitably and suffer from the irreversible health decline that comes withold age, which is associated withdisability,disease, anddeath. The sight of aged people could be a possible reminder of death (memento mori) and inevitable biological vulnerability. This unwillingness to accept these can manifest in feelings of hostility and discriminatory acts towards older adults.
Old age was previously seen as a golden age in theMiddle Ages.[5] Around the time of the Anglo-Saxons there was a shift towards more negative views of the elderly, which led to more and more literature developing a gerontophobic view.[6]
^Burrow, J. A. (1986).The ages of man : a study in medieval writing and thought. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Clarendon Press.ISBN978-0-19-167098-5.OCLC610591940.
