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Differences in the way older and younger adults rate threat in faces but not situations

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 16:08 authored by Ted Ruffman, Susan Sullivan, Nigel Edge
We compared young and healthy older adults' ability to rate photos of faces and situations (e.g., sporting activities) for the degree of threat they posed. Older adults did not distinguish between more and less dangerous faces to the same extent as younger adults did. In contrast, we found no significant age differences in young and older adults' ability to distinguish between high- and low-danger situations. The differences between young and older adults on the face task were independent of age differences in older adults' fluid IQ. We discuss results in relation to differences between young and older adults on emotion-recognition tasks; we also discuss sociocognitive and neuropsychological (e.g., amygdala) theories of aging.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journals of Gerontology, Series B

ISSN

1079-5014

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

4

Volume

61

Page range

P187-P194

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2013-10-18

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