Aging and attentional biases for emotional faces
Open accessAbstract
We examined age differences in attention to and memory for faces expressing sadness, anger, and happiness. Participants saw a pair of faces, one emotional and one neutral, and then a dot probe that appeared in the location of one of the faces. In two experiments, older adults responded faster to the dot if it was presented on the same side as a neutral face than if it was presented on the same side as a negative face. Younger adults did not exhibit this attentional bias. Interactions of age and valence were also found for memory for the faces, with older adults remembering positive better than negative faces. These findings reveal that in their initial attention, older adults avoid negative information. This attentional bias is consistent with older adults' generally better emotional well-being and their tendency to remember negative less well than positive information.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Socioemotional theory suggests that shifts in time perspectives lead to changes in cognitive processing of emotional information, including decreased memory for negative images and increased attentional bias for faces expressing positive emotions.
“Additionally, socioemotional theory suggests that these shifts in time perspectives also lead to changes in cognitive processing of emotional information, including decreased memory for negative images (Charles et al., 2003) and increased attentional bias for faces expressing positive emotions (Mather and Carstensen, 2003).”
From Physiological feelings (2019) · cites this paper as Mather and Carstensen, 2003
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Taking time seriously: A theory of socioemotional selectivity.
Carstensen, L. L., Isaacowitz, D. M., & Charles, S. T. (1999) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037//0003-066x.54.3.165 · Cited by 5,377 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Attentional bias for emotional faces in generalized anxiety disorder.”
BackgroundSelf-citationSocioemotional selectivity theory and the regulation of emotion in the second half of life
Carstensen, L. L., Fung, H. H., & Charles, S. T. (2003) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1023/a:1024569803230 · Cited by 1,978 · see citing works
Self-citationAge-related differences and change in positive and negative affect over 23 years.
Charles, S. T., Reynolds, C. A., & Gatz, M. (2001) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.80.1.136 · Cited by 1,049 · see citing works
Attentional biases for negative interpersonal stimuli in clinical depression
Gotlib, I. H., Krasnoperova, E., Yue, D. N., & Joormann, J. (2004) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.113.1.121 · Cited by 911 · see citing works
Choosing social partners: how old age and anticipated endings make people more selective
Fredrickson, B. L., & Carstensen, L. L. (1990) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/0882-7974.5.3.335 · Cited by 487 · see citing works
Self-citationInfluence of HIV status and age on cognitive representations of others
Carstensen, L. L., & Fredrickson, B. L. (1998) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.17.6.494 · Cited by 249 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 11
- Blanchard-Fields, F., & Camp, C.J. (1990). Affect, individual differences, and real world problem solving across the adult life span. In T. Hess (Ed.), Aging and cognition: Knowledge organization and utilization (pp. 461-497). Amsterdam: North-Holland.
- Bradley, B.P., Mogg, K., & Millar, N.H. (2000). Covert and overt orienting of attention to emotional faces in anxiety. Cognition & Emotion, 14, 789-808. VOL. 14, NO. 5, SEPTEMBER 2003 415
- Bradley, B.P., Mogg, K., White, J., Groom, C., & de Bono, J. (1999). Attentional bias for emotional faces in generalized anxiety disorder. British Journal of Clinical Psychol- ogy, 38, 267-278.
- Carstensen, L.L., Pasupathi, M., Mayr, U., & Nesselroade, J.R. (2000). Emotional experi- ence in everyday life across the adult life span. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 644-655.
- Charles, S.T., Mather, M., & Carstensen, L.L. (2003). Aging and emotional memory: The forgettable nature of negative images for older adults. Journal of Experimental Psy- chology: General, 132, 310-324.
- Fung, H.H., & Carstensen, L.L. (in press). Sending memorable messages to the old: Age differences in preferences and memory for emotionally meaningful advertisements. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
- Kennedy, Q., Mather, M., & Carstensen, L.L. (in press). The role of motivation in the age- related positive bias in autobiographical memory. Psychological Science.
- Mather, M. (in press). Aging and emotional memory. In D. Reisberg & P. Hertel (Eds.), Memory and emotion. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Mather, M., & Johnson, M.K. (2003). Affective review and schema reliance in older and younger adults. American Journal of Psychology, 116, 169-189.
- Mroczek, D.K., & Kolarz, C.M. (1998). The effect of age on positive and negative affect: A developmental perspective on happiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psy- chology, 75, 1333-1349.
- Weissman, M.M., Leaf, P.J., Bruce, M.L., & Florio, L. (1988). The epidemiology of dys- thymia in five communities: Rates, risks, co-morbidity, and treatment. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 815-819. (RECEIVED 4/8/02; REVISION ACCEPTED 10/3/02)
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Socioemotional selectivity theory and the regulation of emotion in the second half of life
Carstensen, L. L., Fung, H. H., & Charles, S. T. (2003) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1023/a:1024569803230 · Cited by 1,978 · see citing works
Self-citationAging and motivated cognition: the positivity effect in attention and memory
Mather, M., & Carstensen, L. L. (2005) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2005.08.005 · Cited by 1,910 · see citing works
Self-citationAging and emotional memory: the forgettable nature of negative images for older adults
Charles, S. T., Mather, M., & Carstensen, L. L. (2003) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.132.2.310 · Cited by 1,132 · see citing works
Self-citationAt the Intersection of Emotion and Cognition: Aging and the Positivity Effect
Carstensen, L. L., & Mikels, J. A. (2005) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00348.x · Cited by 1,007 · see citing works
Self-citationAnxiety disorders in older adults: a comprehensive review
Wolitzky-Taylor, K. B., Castriotta, N., Lenze, E. J., Stanley, M. A., & Craske, M. G. (2010) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20653 · Cited by 726 · see citing works
Emotional Aging: Recent Findings and Future Trends
Scheibe, S., & Carstensen, L. L. (2010) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences · doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp132 · Cited by 688 · see citing works
Self-citationMauss, I. B., Bunge, S. A., & Gross, J. J. (2007) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2007.00005.x · Cited by 538 · see citing works
Affect-biased attention as emotion regulation
Todd, R. M., Cunningham, W. A., Anderson, A. K., & Thompson, E. (2012) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2012.06.003 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
Age-related differences in emotion recognition ability: A cross-sectional study.
Mill, A., Allik, J., Realo, A., & Valk, R. (2009) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0016562 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Pace-Schott, E. F., Amole, M. C., Aue, T., Balconi, M., Bylsma, L. M., Critchley, H., Demaree, H. A., Friedman, B. H., Gooding, A. E. K., Gosseries, O., et al. (2019) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.002 · Cited by 221 · see citing works
“, 2003) and increased attentional bias for faces expressing positive emotions (Mather and Carstensen, 2003).”
Ageing and autobiographical memory for emotional and neutral events
St. Jacques, P. L., & Levine, B. (2007) · Memory · doi:10.1080/09658210601119762 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Kisley, M. A., Wood, S., & Burrows, C. L. (2007) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01988.x · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Shao, J., Zhang, Q., Ren, Y., Li, X., & Lin, T. (2019) · Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1080/08946566.2019.1625842 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Facial age affects emotional expression decoding
Fölster, M., Hess, U., & Werheid, K. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00030 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Intranasal oxytocin selectively attenuates rhesus monkeys’ attention to negative facial expressions
Parr, L. A., Modi, M., Siebert, E., & Young, L. J. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.02.011 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Price, R. B., Eldreth, D. A., & Mohlman, J. (2011) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2011.46 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
The psychology of the internet fraud victimization of older adults: A systematic review
Shang, Y., Wu, Z., Du, X., Jiang, Y., Ma, B., & Chi, M. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.912242 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
The role of arousal in the spontaneous regulation of emotions in healthy aging: a fMRI investigation
Dolcos, S., Katsumi, Y., & Dixon, R. A. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00681 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
The role of pupil size in communication. Is there room for learning?
Kret, M. E. (2018) · Cognition and Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699931.2017.1370417 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
The Health Significance of Positive Emotions in Adulthood and Later Life
Ong, A. D., Mroczek, D. K., & Riffin, C. (2011) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00370.x · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Cukrowicz, K. C., Ekblad, A. G., Cheavens, J. S., Rosenthal, M. Z., & Lynch, T. R. (2008) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607860801936714 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Alger, S. E., Kensinger, E. A., & Payne, J. D. (2018) · Neurobiology of Aging · doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.03.030 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Anxiety-linked expectancy bias across the adult lifespan
Steinman, S. A., Smyth, F. L., Bucks, R. S., MacLeod, C., & Teachman, B. A. (2013) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699931.2012.711743 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Inflammation and attentional bias in breast cancer survivors.
Boyle, C. C., Ganz, P. A., Van Dyk, K. M., & Bower, J. E. (2017) · Brain, Behavior, and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2017.05.016 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Pretrial publicity and juror age affect mock-juror decision making.
Ruva, C. L., & Hudak, E. M. (2013) · Psychology, Crime & Law · doi:10.1080/1068316x.2011.616509 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
- Authors
- Mather, M., & Carstensen, L. L.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mather, Mara
- Venue
- Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2003-09
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 409-415
- ISSN
- 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9280
- OpenAlex
- W2070955680
- Cited by
- 808
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 18.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.escholarship.org
- Locations
- Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (R01-8816)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- aging, attentional bias, emotional facial expressions, face memory, emotional valence, older adults, emotional well-being, sadness, anger, happiness
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attention, Emotions, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Perceptual Defense, Reaction Time, Mental Recall
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
