The impact of meta-stereotypes on older adults' cooperative behavior and the role of vicarious intergroup contact

As population aging accelerates, intergroup relations between older adults and younger people have gained societal attention. Prosocial interactions, especially cooperative behavior between the two groups, significantly impact intergenerational relationships and older adults' well-being. However, negative effects of Meta-Stereotypes can influence cooperative behavior through intergroup anxiety. This study, through two experiments, explores the impact of meta-stereotype valence on older adults' cooperative behavior and the mediating role of intergroup anxiety, as well as the alleviating effect of vicarious intergroup contact. Study 1, using the Ultimatum Game paradigm, found that positive meta-stereotypes increased cooperative behavior by reducing intergroup anxiety, while negative meta-stereotypes decreased cooperative behavior by increasing anxiety, with anxiety fully mediating the effect. Study 2 demonstrated that vicarious intergroup contact effectively reduced intergroup anxiety and enhanced cooperative behavior, mitigating the negative impact of Meta-Stereotypes. In conclusion, Meta-Stereotypes affect older adults' cooperative behavior by influencing intergroup anxiety, following the reciprocity principle. Vicarious intergroup contact is an effective intervention to alleviate anxiety and improve cooperative behavior, promoting harmonious coexistence between older adults and younger generations.