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The end is (not) near: Aging, essentialism, and future time perspective
David Weiss1, Veronika Job2, Maya Mathias2
1Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University.
Developmental Psychology
|May 27, 2016
Summary
Essentialist beliefs about aging, which view aging as immutable, shorten people's future time perspective. This effect is explained by the perception of aging-related threats.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Beliefs about aging significantly impact how individuals perceive and react to age-related changes.
- Essentialist beliefs about aging define aging as an immutable process linked to inherent properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between essentialist beliefs about aging and future time perspective.
- To examine the mediating role of perceived aging-related threat in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Correlational and experimental studies involving participants aged 18-77.
- Analysis of data from three studies (N = 527) to assess beliefs, future time perspective, and threat perception.
Main Results:
- Endorsement of essentialist beliefs about aging was associated with a more limited future time perspective.
- Perception of aging-related threat significantly mediated the effect of essentialist beliefs on future time perspective.
Conclusions:
- Essentialist beliefs about aging fundamentally shape individuals' perception of their future time horizons.
- Understanding these beliefs is crucial for interventions aimed at improving the aging experience.
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