Objective: This study seeks to examine the applicability of the Dual-Process Model of Ideology, Politics, and Prejudice (DPM) as a theoretical explanatory frame-work to ageism.
Methods: The study is based on a secondary analysis of the European Social Survey (ESS), a quantitative project established in 2001 that includes 34 European countries. The sample was a representative random sample of the adult population of eight participating countries, and included a total of 19,073 participants.
Main findings: In general, this study's findings point to the fact that no statistically significant correlation exists between the personality variables, whether authoritative or social dominant, and ageism.
Principal conclusions: It appears that the theoretical framework of the DPM model may not be appropriate as a theoretical and explanatory model of the phenomenon of ageism. This may indicate that ageism possibly differs from similar social phenomena, such as sexism and racism, at least in its DPM model basis. More research is needed in this field to better understand the applicability of the DPM model to ageism.