Emotion Regulation in Adulthood and Old Age: A Cognitive Aging Perspective on Strategy Use and Effectiveness

doi:10.1017/9781108552684.019

16 - Emotion Regulation in Adulthood and Old Age: A Cognitive Aging Perspective on Strategy Use and Effectiveness

from Part III - Aging in a Socioemotional Context

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 May 2020

Kathryn L. Ossenfort and

Derek M. Isaacowitz

Edited by

Ayanna K. Thomas and

Angela Gutchess

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Ayanna K. Thomas: Affiliation:
Tufts University, Massachusetts
Angela Gutchess: Affiliation:
Brandeis University, Massachusetts

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Summary

Although aging is associated with declines in domains such as physical health and cognitive abilities, a large body of research has provided evidence that older adults still report feeling positive. Prominent theories of emotional aging have suggested that this may be the result of increased emotion regulation abilities with age. Older adults are thought to choose and be more successful at certain strategies compared to younger adults. However, empirical evidence has not consistently supported all of the theoretical predictions. In this chapter, we discuss these predictions and how they relate specifically to aspects of cognitive aging. We will then discuss the evidence that both supports and refutes the claims made by these theories. Finally, we will attempt to reconcile the empirical findings with the theories to evaluate whether what we are seeing is actually age-related improvements, or evidence for stability and maintenance of emotional experience with age.

Keywords

emotions well-being emotion regulation socioemotional selectivity theory selection optimization and compensation model of emotion regulation strengths and vulnerabilities integration model process model of emotion regulation positivity effects

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Handbook of Cognitive Aging
A Life Course Perspective
, pp. 299 - 314

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108552684.019 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2020

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16 - Emotion Regulation in Adulthood and Old Age: A Cognitive Aging Perspective on Strategy Use and Effectiveness

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