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Aging Impairs Inhibitory Control Over Incidental Cues: A Construal-Level Perspective
Liat Hadar1, Yaacov Trope2, Boaz M Ben-David3,4,5
1Coller School of Management, Tel Aviv University.
Psychological Science
|August 12, 2021
Summary
Older adults make different decisions than younger adults, partly because they focus more on irrelevant details. This study shows younger adults prioritize goal-relevant information, an effect that lessens with age.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience of Aging
- Decision-Making Research
Background:
- Age-related cognitive decline impacts decision-making abilities.
- Older adults exhibit reduced inhibition of irrelevant information.
- Hypothesis: Older adults overweight subordinate, goal-irrelevant information.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate age-related differences in decision-making.
- Examine the role of subordinate and goal-irrelevant information processing.
- Determine how age influences the valuation of product attributes.
Main Methods:
- Four studies (N=800 total) compared young and older adults' choices and satisfaction.
- Participants evaluated products based on means (how it's made) vs. end (what it does) attributes.
- Assessed satisfaction with goal-relevant vs. goal-irrelevant products.
Main Results:
- Young adults prioritized superior end attributes over means attributes.
- Young adults showed greater satisfaction with goal-relevant products.
- These age-related differences were less pronounced in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Age-related decision-making changes are partly due to increased weighting of subordinate, goal-irrelevant information.
- Findings have implications for understanding aging, construal level theory, and policy.
- Interventions may need to account for age-related shifts in information processing.
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