Daniel Grühn | North Carolina State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Daniel Grühn

All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you... more All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.

Objective. We investigated linear and quadratic effects of age on self-reported empathy in three ... more Objective. We investigated linear and quadratic effects of age on self-reported empathy in three large cross-sectional samples of American adults aged 18–90 years. Method. Participants completed subscales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983), allowing us to independently assess an emotional component of empathy (“empathic concern”) and a cognitive component of empathy (“perspective taking”) across the adult life span. Results. For both measures and in all three samples, we found evidence for an inverse-U-shaped pattern across age: Middle-aged adults reported higher empathy than both young adults and older adults. We also found a consistent gender difference: Women reported more empathy than men. We did not find systematic differences by ethnicity. However, neither gender nor ethnicity interacted with age effects. Discussion. We discuss the inverse-U-shaped age pattern, in terms of aging versus cohort influences, and how it complements and extends the existing literatu...

The handbook is an impressive collection of research studies and theories provided by knowledgeab... more The handbook is an impressive collection of research studies and theories provided by knowledgeable contributors on life-span development from conception to old age."--Anthropology and Aging Quarterly The doubling of our average life span since the turn of the 20th century is considered by many scholars to be one of the most important changes in human existence. This definitive text is the only volume to fully address, through a multidisciplinary perspective, the biological, cognitive, and psychological development that occurs from infancy through old age, and how the sociocultural and institutional factors interface with these changes. Edited by leading research scholars in the field of life-span development, the volume also includes contributions of specialists in behavioral genetics, socioemotional selectivity theory, neuroscience, ecological models, and more. It examines the dynamics of close relationships and informal ties among the elderly population, child-parent attachment relationships as a life-span phenomenon, developmental tasks across the lifespan, continuity and discontinuity in temperament and personality, the sociocultural context of cognition across the life span, and variability in approaches to social problem solving from early to later life. Given the number of recent demographic shifts, it also explores issues related to fertility, life expectancy, environmental contexts, technology, immigration, and public policy. Key Features: Integrates the full life span from infancy through old age in each chapter Considers multidisciplinary perspectives that address personal relationships, cognitive development, and social, emotional, and physical health across the life span Situates life-span development in ecological contexts (e.g., socioeconomic, neighborhood, and immigration status) Provides a concise but thorough resource for graduate seminars in life-span-related studies Highlights future issues in all areas of life-span study

TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS X ABSTRACT XI ZUSAMMENFASSUNG XIV 1\. Introduction 1 2\. Theore... more TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS X ABSTRACT XI ZUSAMMENFASSUNG XIV 1\. Introduction 1 2\. Theoretical Considerations 22 3\. The Present Studies 67 4\. Word Rating Study 80 5\. Central Study 112 6\. Discussion 168 7\. References 190 8\. Appendices

Psychological Reports, 2016

Research in the socio-emotional domain may require words for experimental settings rated on emoti... more Research in the socio-emotional domain may require words for experimental settings rated on emotionally and socially relevant word characteristics (e.g., valence and desirability). In addition, cognitively relevant word characteristics (e.g., imagery) are important for research in the interface of emotion and cognition (e.g., emotional memory). To provide researchers with a corresponding word pool, the database of English EMOtional TErms (EMOTE) provides subjective ratings for 1287 nouns and 985 adjectives. Nouns and adjectives were rated on valence, arousal, emotionality, concreteness, imagery, familiarity, and clarity of meaning. In addition, adjectives were rated on control, desirability, and likeableness. EMOTE norms provide an easily accessible word pool for research in the socio-emotional domain. To illustrate the usefulness of this database, norms were linked to memorability scores from a word recognition task for EMOTE nouns. The database as well as future directions are dis...

Older drivers experience increasing risks of a motor vehicle crash as they age. The increased cra... more Older drivers experience increasing risks of a motor vehicle crash as they age. The increased crash risks among older drivers are associated with age-related declines in cognitive functioning, particularly in attentional abilities. Failures in attentional processing can severely impair driving performance. The authors developed a questionnaire, the Attentional Failures during Driving Questionnaire (AFDQ), to measure the frequency of attentional failures in driving. Initial evidence suggested that the AFDQ was a reliable and valid measure of attentional abilities in driving, and was able to reflect age differences on these abilities. In this paper, they describe their efforts to further develop the AFDQ to a short version based on a factor analysis of the items. They examined the effectiveness of the AFDQ in a survey study and then a simulated driving study with older drivers. Results from their survey study suggested that the AFDQ score was well associated with scores from other est...

GeroPsych

. We investigated the effects of time horizon and age on the socioemotional motives underlying in... more . We investigated the effects of time horizon and age on the socioemotional motives underlying individual’s bucket-list goals. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three time-horizon conditions to make a bucket list: (1) an open-ended time horizon (Study 1 & 2), (2) a 6-month horizon (i.e., “Imagine you have 6 months to live”; Study 1 & 2), and (3) a 1-week horizon (Study 2). Goal motives were coded based on socioemotional selectivity theory and psychosocial development theory. Results indicated that time horizon and age produced unique effects on bucket-list goal motives. Extending past findings on people’s motives considering the end of life, the findings suggest that different time horizons and life stages trigger different motives.

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development

Being socially engaged is theorized to diminish age-related declines in emotional functioning. Ho... more Being socially engaged is theorized to diminish age-related declines in emotional functioning. However, unique facets of social engagement may differentially impact functioning in older adulthood. In particular, social participation (SP) might be more beneficial than social support (SS) in buffering declines. The goal of this study was to examine whether interindividual differences in SP and SS influenced intraindividual change in Psychological Well-Being (PWB). The impact of SS and SP on change in PWB was investigated in two samples from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study spanning 19 years (1992–2011): graduate respondents and their siblings. Using latent growth curve models, small declines in PWB were found. Individuals high in SP demonstrated a less steep decline in PWB across the three time points than individuals low in SP. SS, however, did not buffer declines in PWB. Developmental implications of the age-related trajectory of PWB and the relationship with social engagement are d...

Teaching of Psychology

ABSTRACT Montepare suggested the use of a self-correcting approach to multiple-choice tests: Stud... more ABSTRACT Montepare suggested the use of a self-correcting approach to multiple-choice tests: Students first take the exam as usual, but are allowed to hand in a self-corrected version afterwards. The idea of this approach is that the additional interaction with the material may foster further learning. To examine whether such an approach actually improves learning, we compared two large sections in psychology: one section used traditional exams and the other section used self-correcting midterm exams. Indeed, compared to the traditional approach, students using the self-correcting approach performed better on the final exam. Moreover, students who self-corrected more items performed better on the final exam above and beyond students' original performance. As a tool to foster students' engagement and learning, the self-correcting approach might be especially useful in large classroom settings.

Social Psychological and Personality Science

We investigated how moral judgments were influenced by (a) the age and gender of the moral perpet... more We investigated how moral judgments were influenced by (a) the age and gender of the moral perpetrator and victim, (b) the moral judge’s benevolent ageism and benevolent sexism, and (c) the moral judge’s gender. By systematically manipulating the age and gender of the perpetrators and victims in moral scenarios, participants in two studies made judgments about the moral transgressions. We found that (a) people made more negative judgments when the victims were old or female rather than young or male, (b) benevolent ageism influenced people’s judgments about young versus old perpetrators, and (c) people had differential moral expectations of perpetrators who belonged to their same-gender group versus opposite-gender group. The findings suggest that age and gender stereotypes are so salient to bias people’s moral judgments even when the transgression is undoubtedly intentional and hostile.

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Individuals' reaction tendencies in emotional situations may influence their social relationships... more Individuals' reaction tendencies in emotional situations may influence their social relationships. In two studies, we examined whether perceived similarity in emotional reaction tendencies between the self and a close other was associated with individuals' emotional well-being. Participants rated how the self and a close other (mother in Study 1; a selfnominated close other in Study 2) would react in various situations. Individuals who perceived greater similarity between the self and the close other reported more positive affect, less negative affect, lower perceived stress, and higher life satisfaction than those who perceived less self-other similarity. Furthermore, stress exposure moderated the effects of self-other similarity on perceived stress. In summary, greater perceived similarity with one's close others seems beneficial for social-emotional adaptation.

Emotion Review, 2015

The field of emotion understanding is replete with measures, yet lacks an integrated conceptual o... more The field of emotion understanding is replete with measures, yet lacks an integrated conceptual organizing structure. To identify and organize skills associated with the recognition and knowledge of emotions, and to highlight the focus of emotion understanding as localized in the self, in specific others, and in generalized others, we introduce the conceptual framework of Emotion Understanding in Recognition and Knowledge Abilities (EUReKA). We then categorize 56 existing methods of emotion understanding within this framework to highlight current gaps and future opportunities in assessing emotion understanding across the lifespan. We hope the EUReKA model provides a systematic and integrated framework for conceptualizing and measuring emotion understanding for future research.

Emotion Measurement, 2016

Psychology and Aging, 2015

Although a limited future time perspective (FTP) has been theorized to be the underlying mechanis... more Although a limited future time perspective (FTP) has been theorized to be the underlying mechanism of positive emotional functioning later in life, there is scant empirical evidence for this position. Using an integrative data-analytic approach, we investigated the predictive value of FTP, age, and subjective health in explaining emotional functioning in a sample of 2,504 adults (17 to 87 years, M ϭ 35.5, SD ϭ 14.2). Although older adults reported a more limited FTP than younger adults, age and a limited FTP had opposite effects in predicting subjective well-being, affect, positive emotions, empathy, and attitudes toward emotions. That is, old age was linked to a more adaptive emotional profile, whereas a limited FTP was linked to a more maladaptive emotional profile. This was the case even after controlling for health-related aspects. The findings question the usage of FTP as an explanatory variable for observed age differences in emotional functioning.

Journal of Vision, 2015

The ability to accurately determine the emotional state of others is critical for successful soci... more The ability to accurately determine the emotional state of others is critical for successful social functioning. However older adults can demonstrate selective difficulties in identifying negative emotions from faces while the ability to identify positive emotional faces is preserved. In younger adults the categorization of facial expressions of emotion has been shown to rely on the processing of specific subsets of visual information (e.g. broadly smiling mouth in happiness, wide open eyes in fear)1,2. However it remains unclear whether healthy older adults process the same specific visual cues as younger adults in a less efficient manner when processing negative expressions, or if they attend to and encode qualitatively different information. We investigated whether the diagnostic information underlying the correct emotion categorization of five basic facial expressions (happy, fear, disgust, anger and sadness) changes as a function of observer age (young vs. older adults) and facial age (young vs. middle-aged vs. older faces). We applied the bubbles reverse correlation methodology with two groups of participants: younger (N=15, 18-35 years) and older adults (N=15, 65+ years). Results revealed that younger and older adults used qualitatively equivalent information to accurately categorize happy and fearful faces, but that the information used by both groups differed when they categorized fear in younger vs. older adult face stimuli. Older adults generally experienced more difficulty with the remaining negative emotions (disgust, anger and sadness) and exhibited a sub-optimal use of the diagnostic facial features. These results constitute a novel, highly detailed account of the specific visual features underlying the classification of facial expressions as across observer and transmitter of the emotional expressions stimulus age. 1Smith Cottrell, Gosselin & Schyns, 2005, Psychological Science 2Smith & Merlusca, 2014, Emotion Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Jan 28, 2014

Social rejection is a negative social experience individuals of all ages may encounter in everyda... more Social rejection is a negative social experience individuals of all ages may encounter in everyday life. It is unclear whether social rejection affects older adults more or less than younger adults. This study investigated age differences in reactions following a direct rejection and the moderating effects of cognitive resources and appraisals. Eighty-three younger (18-26 years) and 53 older (60-86 years) adults engaged in an online interview during which they were either accepted or rejected seemingly by another participant. We examined participants' self-reported mood before and after the interview as well as verbal self-complexity. Older adults reported greater increases in hurt feelings following rejection than younger adults. The age difference was further moderated by cognitive resources and appraisals. Among older rejected adults, those who were poorer in processing speed and those who appraised the rejection more negatively felt more hurt feelings. Older rejected adults ...

Aging and cognition: Research methodologies and empirical advances., 2009

The Handbook of Life-Span Development, 2010

... cortical mechanisms participate in behav-ior change through processes of inhibition and execu... more ... cortical mechanisms participate in behav-ior change through processes of inhibition and executivecontrol. ... In the case of “logical learning” (Pascual-Leone, 1991), change is based on explicit ... such notions as discrepancy and tension in terms that lack the motivational urgency of ...

All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you... more All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.

Objective. We investigated linear and quadratic effects of age on self-reported empathy in three ... more Objective. We investigated linear and quadratic effects of age on self-reported empathy in three large cross-sectional samples of American adults aged 18–90 years. Method. Participants completed subscales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983), allowing us to independently assess an emotional component of empathy (“empathic concern”) and a cognitive component of empathy (“perspective taking”) across the adult life span. Results. For both measures and in all three samples, we found evidence for an inverse-U-shaped pattern across age: Middle-aged adults reported higher empathy than both young adults and older adults. We also found a consistent gender difference: Women reported more empathy than men. We did not find systematic differences by ethnicity. However, neither gender nor ethnicity interacted with age effects. Discussion. We discuss the inverse-U-shaped age pattern, in terms of aging versus cohort influences, and how it complements and extends the existing literatu...

The handbook is an impressive collection of research studies and theories provided by knowledgeab... more The handbook is an impressive collection of research studies and theories provided by knowledgeable contributors on life-span development from conception to old age."--Anthropology and Aging Quarterly The doubling of our average life span since the turn of the 20th century is considered by many scholars to be one of the most important changes in human existence. This definitive text is the only volume to fully address, through a multidisciplinary perspective, the biological, cognitive, and psychological development that occurs from infancy through old age, and how the sociocultural and institutional factors interface with these changes. Edited by leading research scholars in the field of life-span development, the volume also includes contributions of specialists in behavioral genetics, socioemotional selectivity theory, neuroscience, ecological models, and more. It examines the dynamics of close relationships and informal ties among the elderly population, child-parent attachment relationships as a life-span phenomenon, developmental tasks across the lifespan, continuity and discontinuity in temperament and personality, the sociocultural context of cognition across the life span, and variability in approaches to social problem solving from early to later life. Given the number of recent demographic shifts, it also explores issues related to fertility, life expectancy, environmental contexts, technology, immigration, and public policy. Key Features: Integrates the full life span from infancy through old age in each chapter Considers multidisciplinary perspectives that address personal relationships, cognitive development, and social, emotional, and physical health across the life span Situates life-span development in ecological contexts (e.g., socioeconomic, neighborhood, and immigration status) Provides a concise but thorough resource for graduate seminars in life-span-related studies Highlights future issues in all areas of life-span study

TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS X ABSTRACT XI ZUSAMMENFASSUNG XIV 1\. Introduction 1 2\. Theore... more TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS X ABSTRACT XI ZUSAMMENFASSUNG XIV 1\. Introduction 1 2\. Theoretical Considerations 22 3\. The Present Studies 67 4\. Word Rating Study 80 5\. Central Study 112 6\. Discussion 168 7\. References 190 8\. Appendices

Psychological Reports, 2016

Research in the socio-emotional domain may require words for experimental settings rated on emoti... more Research in the socio-emotional domain may require words for experimental settings rated on emotionally and socially relevant word characteristics (e.g., valence and desirability). In addition, cognitively relevant word characteristics (e.g., imagery) are important for research in the interface of emotion and cognition (e.g., emotional memory). To provide researchers with a corresponding word pool, the database of English EMOtional TErms (EMOTE) provides subjective ratings for 1287 nouns and 985 adjectives. Nouns and adjectives were rated on valence, arousal, emotionality, concreteness, imagery, familiarity, and clarity of meaning. In addition, adjectives were rated on control, desirability, and likeableness. EMOTE norms provide an easily accessible word pool for research in the socio-emotional domain. To illustrate the usefulness of this database, norms were linked to memorability scores from a word recognition task for EMOTE nouns. The database as well as future directions are dis...

Older drivers experience increasing risks of a motor vehicle crash as they age. The increased cra... more Older drivers experience increasing risks of a motor vehicle crash as they age. The increased crash risks among older drivers are associated with age-related declines in cognitive functioning, particularly in attentional abilities. Failures in attentional processing can severely impair driving performance. The authors developed a questionnaire, the Attentional Failures during Driving Questionnaire (AFDQ), to measure the frequency of attentional failures in driving. Initial evidence suggested that the AFDQ was a reliable and valid measure of attentional abilities in driving, and was able to reflect age differences on these abilities. In this paper, they describe their efforts to further develop the AFDQ to a short version based on a factor analysis of the items. They examined the effectiveness of the AFDQ in a survey study and then a simulated driving study with older drivers. Results from their survey study suggested that the AFDQ score was well associated with scores from other est...

GeroPsych

. We investigated the effects of time horizon and age on the socioemotional motives underlying in... more . We investigated the effects of time horizon and age on the socioemotional motives underlying individual’s bucket-list goals. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three time-horizon conditions to make a bucket list: (1) an open-ended time horizon (Study 1 & 2), (2) a 6-month horizon (i.e., “Imagine you have 6 months to live”; Study 1 & 2), and (3) a 1-week horizon (Study 2). Goal motives were coded based on socioemotional selectivity theory and psychosocial development theory. Results indicated that time horizon and age produced unique effects on bucket-list goal motives. Extending past findings on people’s motives considering the end of life, the findings suggest that different time horizons and life stages trigger different motives.

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development

Being socially engaged is theorized to diminish age-related declines in emotional functioning. Ho... more Being socially engaged is theorized to diminish age-related declines in emotional functioning. However, unique facets of social engagement may differentially impact functioning in older adulthood. In particular, social participation (SP) might be more beneficial than social support (SS) in buffering declines. The goal of this study was to examine whether interindividual differences in SP and SS influenced intraindividual change in Psychological Well-Being (PWB). The impact of SS and SP on change in PWB was investigated in two samples from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study spanning 19 years (1992–2011): graduate respondents and their siblings. Using latent growth curve models, small declines in PWB were found. Individuals high in SP demonstrated a less steep decline in PWB across the three time points than individuals low in SP. SS, however, did not buffer declines in PWB. Developmental implications of the age-related trajectory of PWB and the relationship with social engagement are d...

Teaching of Psychology

ABSTRACT Montepare suggested the use of a self-correcting approach to multiple-choice tests: Stud... more ABSTRACT Montepare suggested the use of a self-correcting approach to multiple-choice tests: Students first take the exam as usual, but are allowed to hand in a self-corrected version afterwards. The idea of this approach is that the additional interaction with the material may foster further learning. To examine whether such an approach actually improves learning, we compared two large sections in psychology: one section used traditional exams and the other section used self-correcting midterm exams. Indeed, compared to the traditional approach, students using the self-correcting approach performed better on the final exam. Moreover, students who self-corrected more items performed better on the final exam above and beyond students' original performance. As a tool to foster students' engagement and learning, the self-correcting approach might be especially useful in large classroom settings.

Social Psychological and Personality Science

We investigated how moral judgments were influenced by (a) the age and gender of the moral perpet... more We investigated how moral judgments were influenced by (a) the age and gender of the moral perpetrator and victim, (b) the moral judge’s benevolent ageism and benevolent sexism, and (c) the moral judge’s gender. By systematically manipulating the age and gender of the perpetrators and victims in moral scenarios, participants in two studies made judgments about the moral transgressions. We found that (a) people made more negative judgments when the victims were old or female rather than young or male, (b) benevolent ageism influenced people’s judgments about young versus old perpetrators, and (c) people had differential moral expectations of perpetrators who belonged to their same-gender group versus opposite-gender group. The findings suggest that age and gender stereotypes are so salient to bias people’s moral judgments even when the transgression is undoubtedly intentional and hostile.

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Individuals' reaction tendencies in emotional situations may influence their social relationships... more Individuals' reaction tendencies in emotional situations may influence their social relationships. In two studies, we examined whether perceived similarity in emotional reaction tendencies between the self and a close other was associated with individuals' emotional well-being. Participants rated how the self and a close other (mother in Study 1; a selfnominated close other in Study 2) would react in various situations. Individuals who perceived greater similarity between the self and the close other reported more positive affect, less negative affect, lower perceived stress, and higher life satisfaction than those who perceived less self-other similarity. Furthermore, stress exposure moderated the effects of self-other similarity on perceived stress. In summary, greater perceived similarity with one's close others seems beneficial for social-emotional adaptation.

Emotion Review, 2015

The field of emotion understanding is replete with measures, yet lacks an integrated conceptual o... more The field of emotion understanding is replete with measures, yet lacks an integrated conceptual organizing structure. To identify and organize skills associated with the recognition and knowledge of emotions, and to highlight the focus of emotion understanding as localized in the self, in specific others, and in generalized others, we introduce the conceptual framework of Emotion Understanding in Recognition and Knowledge Abilities (EUReKA). We then categorize 56 existing methods of emotion understanding within this framework to highlight current gaps and future opportunities in assessing emotion understanding across the lifespan. We hope the EUReKA model provides a systematic and integrated framework for conceptualizing and measuring emotion understanding for future research.

Emotion Measurement, 2016

Psychology and Aging, 2015

Although a limited future time perspective (FTP) has been theorized to be the underlying mechanis... more Although a limited future time perspective (FTP) has been theorized to be the underlying mechanism of positive emotional functioning later in life, there is scant empirical evidence for this position. Using an integrative data-analytic approach, we investigated the predictive value of FTP, age, and subjective health in explaining emotional functioning in a sample of 2,504 adults (17 to 87 years, M ϭ 35.5, SD ϭ 14.2). Although older adults reported a more limited FTP than younger adults, age and a limited FTP had opposite effects in predicting subjective well-being, affect, positive emotions, empathy, and attitudes toward emotions. That is, old age was linked to a more adaptive emotional profile, whereas a limited FTP was linked to a more maladaptive emotional profile. This was the case even after controlling for health-related aspects. The findings question the usage of FTP as an explanatory variable for observed age differences in emotional functioning.

Journal of Vision, 2015

The ability to accurately determine the emotional state of others is critical for successful soci... more The ability to accurately determine the emotional state of others is critical for successful social functioning. However older adults can demonstrate selective difficulties in identifying negative emotions from faces while the ability to identify positive emotional faces is preserved. In younger adults the categorization of facial expressions of emotion has been shown to rely on the processing of specific subsets of visual information (e.g. broadly smiling mouth in happiness, wide open eyes in fear)1,2. However it remains unclear whether healthy older adults process the same specific visual cues as younger adults in a less efficient manner when processing negative expressions, or if they attend to and encode qualitatively different information. We investigated whether the diagnostic information underlying the correct emotion categorization of five basic facial expressions (happy, fear, disgust, anger and sadness) changes as a function of observer age (young vs. older adults) and facial age (young vs. middle-aged vs. older faces). We applied the bubbles reverse correlation methodology with two groups of participants: younger (N=15, 18-35 years) and older adults (N=15, 65+ years). Results revealed that younger and older adults used qualitatively equivalent information to accurately categorize happy and fearful faces, but that the information used by both groups differed when they categorized fear in younger vs. older adult face stimuli. Older adults generally experienced more difficulty with the remaining negative emotions (disgust, anger and sadness) and exhibited a sub-optimal use of the diagnostic facial features. These results constitute a novel, highly detailed account of the specific visual features underlying the classification of facial expressions as across observer and transmitter of the emotional expressions stimulus age. 1Smith Cottrell, Gosselin & Schyns, 2005, Psychological Science 2Smith & Merlusca, 2014, Emotion Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Jan 28, 2014

Social rejection is a negative social experience individuals of all ages may encounter in everyda... more Social rejection is a negative social experience individuals of all ages may encounter in everyday life. It is unclear whether social rejection affects older adults more or less than younger adults. This study investigated age differences in reactions following a direct rejection and the moderating effects of cognitive resources and appraisals. Eighty-three younger (18-26 years) and 53 older (60-86 years) adults engaged in an online interview during which they were either accepted or rejected seemingly by another participant. We examined participants' self-reported mood before and after the interview as well as verbal self-complexity. Older adults reported greater increases in hurt feelings following rejection than younger adults. The age difference was further moderated by cognitive resources and appraisals. Among older rejected adults, those who were poorer in processing speed and those who appraised the rejection more negatively felt more hurt feelings. Older rejected adults ...

Aging and cognition: Research methodologies and empirical advances., 2009

The Handbook of Life-Span Development, 2010

... cortical mechanisms participate in behav-ior change through processes of inhibition and execu... more ... cortical mechanisms participate in behav-ior change through processes of inhibition and executivecontrol. ... In the case of “logical learning” (Pascual-Leone, 1991), change is based on explicit ... such notions as discrepancy and tension in terms that lack the motivational urgency of ...