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PSI CHI: The International Honor Society in Psychology

The International Honor Society in Psychology

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Television Commercials: The Depiction and Portrayal of African-American Elderly Adults

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by Christi Washington and Jennifer L. Lucas* - Agnes Scott College

Categories: Developmental | Social


This study used content analysis to examine the depictions and portrayals of African-American elderly in television commercials aired during the fall of 2001.  Findings supported the hypothesis that African-American elderly adults were underrepresented in television commercials. African-American elderly characters were not often cast as the central figures in the commercials and were primarily used to advertise health, food and household products. However, African-American elderly adults were often portrayed as healthy and physically act


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