Taking Time Seriously: A Theory of Socioemotional Selectivity

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

So, why do we care?

• SES offers an alternative to the deficit models of aging
• This research complements the SOC model of aging
• One of the first set of studies that dessiminate age from perception of time to include other perceived losses
• Provides a more positive view of aging in terms of emotion regulation
• Provides a more accurate view of changes in social network as individuals age

How do we choose which goals to pursue?

Four Research Themes

• Related to the individual's perception of time

1. Life-cycle differences in the salience of emotion

2. Age differences in the regulation of emotion

3. Age differences in social network composition

4. Differences in Social Preferences based on perceived time

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

Knowledge-seeking goals

• Acquisitive behavior geared toward learning about the social & physical world

Emotion related goals

• Maximize positive affect states, minimalize negative states; emotional intimacy and social connectedness

Social Preference as a Function of Time

Age Differences in the Regulation of Emotion

Life-Cycle Differences in the Salience of Emotion

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

Older adults are better at regulating emotions

• Perspective of limited time softens the experience of negative emotions

• Replicated the same study in Hong Kong prior to political change & 1 year after political change
• Prior to political change both younger & older adults preferred intimate partners over novel social partners
• 1 year after political handoff, biases disappeared and findings replicated the previous studies done
• HIV Study

• 3 seperate samples, aged teens-90's
• Given 18 cards each describing a type of social partner
• Asked to sort cards based on similarity to oneself
• Using multidimensional scaling analysis, authors found:

Life-span theory of motivation

• Social interaction core to survival
• Human behavior is guided by the pursuit and realization of goals
• The selection of goals is a precursor to action

The goal dimensions described in SES theory were reflected in participant's thinking about possible social partners

"Life is Short but Sweet, for Certain"- Dave Matthews Band

Social Preferences as a Function of Time

Differences in the Salience of Emotion

con'td.

"You are only this young and this hot once- you might as well enjoy it!"- Hayley Jackson

Using an incidental memory paradigm, authors explored differences in processing emotional information with respect to age

Age Differences in the Regulation of Emotion

Same study procedure, different experimental conditions

1) Participants had 30 minutes of free time

2) Participants found out they had an extra 20 years to live

• Sample of participants aged 20-83
• Read a two-page selection from a popular novel
• Participants then asked to recall information from the reading

• Conducted a study with middle-aged & older adult married couples
• Couples completed questionnaires to indicate the degree to which various issues presented conflict in their relationship
• Couples were also recorded discussing a conflict in their relationship

Taking Time Seriously:

A Theory of Socioemotional Selectivity

Found that older participants recalled more emotional information as compared to younger participants

Carstenson. Isaacowitz, & Charles (1999)

• Younger participants preferences were stable across experimental conditions
• Under the expanded time condition, older participants were no more likely than younger people to prefer familiar social partners

Authors found:

• Conflict was less severe in older couples
• Older couples reported greater pleasure in multiple domains
• Older couples expressed lower levels of anger, disgust, belligerence, & whining
• Older couples were more likely to express affection towards one another during a conflict

Hayley Jackson

HDFS 613 Spring 2012

Life Cycle Differences in Composition of Social Networks

Social Preferences as a Function of Time

Authors hypothesized that people systematically hone their social networks to satisfy emotional needs

• Participants ages 11-92
• Asked to indicate preference to 1 of 3 prospective social partners (immediate family, acquaintance w/ whom they have a lot in common, author of a book they've read)
• 2 experiemntal conditions: 1) participants have 30 minutes of free time 2) participants have limited time due to moving to a different country

• Used data from the Child Guidance longitudional study (MacFarlane, 1983)
• Participants interviewed at ages 18, 30, 40, & 50
• Participants asked about sorrows & satisfaction related to various social partners

Authors found:

• Rates of interaction with acquantainces declined, while rates of interaction with intimate partners increased
• These changes occured long before age-related loss could be the cause

• Older participants showed strong preference for familiar social partners under both conditions
• Younger participants showed no preference in the open-ended condition, but under limited time showed the same strong preference for familiar social partners