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Cited by 37Aging and Gerontology ResearchCognitive Functions and MemoryMemory Processes and Influences

Effects of aging on the relation between episodic simulation and prosocial intentions

Open access
Gaesser, Brendan, Dodds, Haley, Schacter, Daniel L.·2017·Memory
DOI 10.1080/09658211.2017.1288746PMC PMC5568493
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Abstract

Imagining helping a person in need can facilitate prosocial intentions. Here we investigated how this effect can change with aging. We found that, similar to young adults, older adults were more willing to help a person in need when they imagined helping that person compared to a baseline condition that did not involve helping, but not compared to a conceptual helping control condition. Controlling for heightened emotional concern in older adults revealed an age-related difference in the effect of imagining on willingness to help. While we observed age-related condition effects, we also found that the subjective vividness of scene imagery predicted willingness to help for both age groups. Our findings provide insight into the relations among episodic simulation, healthy aging, emotion, and prosociality. Implications for effects of episodic memory and aging on social decision-making are discussed.

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  • Vivid and detailed episodic simulations of helping behaviors can facilitate empathy or prosocial intentions toward individuals in need.

    “vivid and detailed episodic simulations of helping behaviors can facilitate empathy or prosocial intentions toward individuals in need (87–88).”

    From Episodic Future Thinking: Mechanisms and Functions (2017) · cites this paper as [88]

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Research works printed but not linked: 28

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Authors
Gaesser, B., Dodds, H., & Schacter, D. L.
Affiliations
  • State University of New York (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Gaesser, Brendan
ORCID
Venue
Memory
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2017-02-24
Volume
25
Issue
9
Pages
1272-1278
ISSN
  • 0965-8211 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-0686
DOI
10.1080/09658211.2017.1288746
PMC
PMC5568493
OpenAlex
W2589968158
Cited by
37
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3
FWCI
6.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Memory (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
John Templeton Foundation (AG08441)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
episodic simulation, prosocial intentions, aging, older adults, helping behavior, emotions, social decision-making, episodic memory
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Emotions, Female, Humans, Imagination, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Social Behavior, Social Perception, Intention, Young Adult, Memory, Episodic

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