Accuracy of Perception of Attitude: An Intergenerational Investigation

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Abstract
A group of 23 college students and a group of 21 60 + -yr.-olds responded to the Purpose-in-Life Test and the Collette-Lester Fear of Death Scale, both subjectively and in a manner they perceived the other generation would respond. Actual differences were found on two of the five measures; the older generation reported significantly higher purpose in life and less fear of personal death. Both groups rated the other as having less purpose in life and more fear of death and dying. The 60 + -yr.-old group was accurate in perceiving the college students' feeling of purpose in life, elevation of fear of personal death, and level of fear of the death of another, while the students accurately predicted the older group's ratings on the scales designed to measure the fear of dying of oneself and the feat of another's dying. A significant positive correlation was found between the raters' subjective response to Feat of Death of Others and their perceptions of the probable response of the other generation. Results, interpretations, and directions for future research are discussed.