Gerontophobia is the
fear of age-related self-degeneration (similar to
Gerascophobia), or a hatred or fear of the elderly due to
memento mori.[citation needed] The term comes from the
Greek γέρων – gerōn, "old man"[1] and φόβος – phobos, "fear".[2] Gerontophobia has been linked to
Thanatophobia as fear of old age can be a precursor to fear of death.[3] Gerontophobia can be caused by harmful stereotypes of elderly people displayed in the media[4]
Ageism
Discriminatory aspects of
ageism have been strongly linked to gerontophobia. This irrational fear or hatred of the elderly 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 with
old age, which is associated with
disability,
disease, and
death. 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 the elderly.
History
Old age was previously seen as a golden age in the Middle 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]
Portrayal in Literature and the Media
Gerontophobia is heavily portrayed in literature and the media starting as early as Anglo-saxon poetry[7] but is also found in common literary classics such as
Shakespeare's
King Lear,
Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, and
Jane Austen's Persuasion[8] Gerontophobia can also be found in many TV shows and movies.[9]
Treatments for Gerontophobia
Treatment for Gerontophobia can include better education about the elderly and aging as well as an increase in exposure and insight therapy.[10]