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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach

Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach

Published on: February 14, 2014

Reflecting on self-relevant experiences: adult age differences.

Cora Rice¹, Monisha Pasupathi

¹Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 390 South 1530 East BEH-S 502, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.

Developmental Psychology

|March 10, 2010

Summary

Older adults use fewer self-focused words and less emotional language when narrating events, indicating less self-construction compared to younger adults. This suggests a reduced engagement in defining their sense of self through storytelling.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Social Psychology
Developmental Psychology

Background:

Research indicates older adults possess a more positive and stable sense of self.
Older adults report diminished motivation for self-construction and self-maintenance.
Differences in self-views between age groups may manifest in narrative practices.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-related differences in narrative features concerning self-construction.
To compare how younger and older adults narrate self-discrepant and self-confirming events.
To examine indicators of self-construction, meaning-making, and emotionality in narratives across age groups.

Main Methods:

Elicited narratives about recent self-relevant events from younger (18-37) and older (58-90) adults.
Analyzed narratives for linguistic markers of self-construction (e.g., self-focused pronouns, tense, emotional language).
Assessed the articulation and resolution of self-concept challenges within narratives.

Main Results:

Older adults' narratives featured significantly fewer self-focused pronouns and less emotional language.
Narratives from older adults used less present tense, suggesting a different temporal focus.
Older adults were less likely to articulate and resolve challenges to their self-concepts in their stories.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest older adults engage less in self-construction during everyday event narration.
This reduced engagement may be particularly pronounced for self-discrepant events.
Age differences in self-views appear to be reflected in narrative content and style.