Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
Published on: August 25, 2023
Age-related differences in goals: testing predictions from selection, optimization, and compensation theory and
Suzanna L Penningroth1, Walter D Scott
1Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA. spenning@uwyo.edu
Abstract:
Two prominent theories of lifespan development, socioemotional selectivity theory and selection, optimization, and compensation theory, make similar predictions for differences in the goal representations of younger and older adults. Our purpose was to test whether the goals of younger and older adults differed in ways predicted by these two theories. Older adults and two groups of younger adults (college students and non-students) listed their current goals, which were then coded by independent raters. Observed age group differences in goals generally supported both theories. Specifically, when compared to younger adults, older adults reported more goals focused on maintenance/loss prevention, the present, emotion-focus and generativity, and social selection, and less goals focused on knowledge acquisition and the future. However, contrary to prediction, older adults also showed less goal focusing than younger adults, reporting goals from a broader set of life domains (e.g., health, property/possessions, friendship).
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Evolutionary Psychology
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
Adler's Individual Psychology
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

