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Preferences for Temporal Sequences of Real Outcomes Differ Across Domains but do not Vary by Age
Corinna E Löckenhoff1, Joshua L Rutt1, Gregory R Samanez-Larkin2,3
1Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Objectives:
People's preferences for temporal sequences of events have implications for life-long health and well-being. Prior research suggests that other aspects of intertemporal choice vary by age, but evidence for age differences in sequence-preferences is limited and inconclusive. In response, the present research examined age differences in sequence-preferences for real outcomes administered in a controlled laboratory setting.
Methods:
A pilot study examined sequence-preferences for aversive electrodermal shocks in 30 younger and 30 older adults. The main study examined sequence-preferences for electrodermal shocks, physical effort, and monetary gambles in an adult life-span sample (N = 120). It also examined emotional and physiological responses to sequences as well as underlying mechanisms including time perception and emotion-regulation.
Results:
There were no significant age differences in sequence-preferences in either of the studies, and there were no age differences in responses to sequences in the main study. Instead, there was a domain effect with participants preferring decreasing sequences for shocks and mixed sequences for effort and money.
Discussion:
After considering potential methodological limitations, theoretical contributions and implications for real-life decisions are discussed.
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