Why put people in groups or label them as something ?

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Grouping things by shared traits seems pretty fundamental to how people think and understand the world around them.

I'll see some health posters asking those of certain age groups to have health checks without realising that age is just a number

Brits don't start to take their health seriously until they approach the age of 40, according to new research.

A study of 2,000 adults found 42 per cent only start taking more care from the age of 39 as they felt less energetic, while one in five started to feel breathless going upstairs.

Others became more concerned after reaching a 'milestone birthday' (20 per cent), having a doctor comment on their wellbeing (nine per cent) or when a family member fell ill or passed away (16 per cent).

It also emerged 28 per cent of adults believe they need to take their health more seriously than they currently do, with 31 per cent wishing they had done so while they were younger.

Why is that ?

You might need to direct that question towards an evolutionary psychologist or someone who's an expert in a related field.

The Power of Labels

Posted on July 13, 2021 by skylarstarnes

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Turner Syndrome (TS) and other chronic conditions can become a large part of one’s identity, but the Turner Syndrome Foundation (TSF wants) individuals with TS to know that they are so much more than their diagnosis!
How Labels Work

Labels reflect how people think about others and themselves. They not only influence how a personal identity is created but also allow for recognition that others have different qualities. They aid people in understanding differences in needs, culture, and personalities. Labels can also reflect positive characteristics, set useful expectations, and provide meaningful goals. At the same time, labeling can create misunderstandings and stereotypes. Whether good or bad, labeling has an important influence on identity and society.

Positive Effects

Despite their usual negative reputation, labels are not always a bad thing. There are many positive effects of labeling. Labels can allow people to find a sense of belonging and power with people with whom they relate. By taking a label that was once viewed as negative and reclaiming it, these groups are able to reestablish their power.

Support for people with specific labels can be found more easily. By accepting the label as a person with TS, the individual can find a community that understands the challenges they are facing. They can find others who can offer moral support or advice on dealing with symptoms and challenges.

Negative Effects

While there are positive effects to labels, there are also negative effects. Labels can shape expectations that are set for other people, creating stereotypes. These stereotypes can result in unrealistic expectations or expecting less from someone despite what they are capable of. For example, someone could expect a person who is Asian to be good at math, even if they aren’t. This could also lead someone to think that a person who is disabled can’t have a job.

Research has shown labeling someone with a mental disorder can lead to a negative outcome, including feelings of rejection and discrimination. All of this can lead to the worsening of the mental disorder and the person’s overall mental health.

Long-term Effects

One of the long-term effects of labeling is that the label becomes the source of identification. According to the paper The Impact of Labeling in Childhood on the Sense of Self of Young Adults, by Rosemary Solomon, “stigma associated with the label [results] in isolation/rejection from society, lowered expectations, self-blame/guilt and emotional distress.” Solomon also explained that, as a result of a negative label given to a person by a family member or friend, they developed strained relationships.

You might need to direct that question towards an evolutionary psychologist or someone who's an expert in a related field.

The best answer I can give is because that's how human brains (and almost certainly other animal's brains) work.

Knowing that food is a category that many different items fall into is a pretty useful skill, no?
Knowing us from them is another vital survival trait for an animal.

Etc, etc.

Thinking in that way seems to be at the core of how the world needs to be understood, which means we're predisposed to viewing other parts of the world in that manner.

When it comes to health concerns, age isn't just a number. As we age different parts of our bodies change, hormone levels change, etc. College age males rarely, if ever, experience prostate issues (for example).

I think you're interpreting the inclusion of age in public health campaigns too black and white. Obviously one's concerns don't increase because they've had a birthday, but certain issues tend to be more relevant for people in certain age ranges.

As for energy levels, people's maximum oxygen absorption diminishes as they age. Someone who's young and unfit can become much more fit, someone who's upper limit is permanently diminished (because of aging) will have a lower ceiling even if they're overall more fit than the younger couch potato.