Stereotype Threat, Aging, and Memory

描述(由申请者提供)：在我们的文化中存在着许多关于老年人的负面刻板印象。其中一个最普遍的观点是认为老年的特征是无能、迟钝和健忘，而这些特征是衰老过程中不可避免的方面。虽然有相当多的科学证据表明认知能力在下降，但越来越多的证据表明，人们对衰老的看法不那么悲观。例如，衰老对记忆的影响并不是普遍存在的，因为某些类型的记忆技能随着年龄的增长表现出最小的变化。其次，也有新的证据表明，年龄差异的观察程度受到情景因素的影响，这些因素影响了老年人的动机和对任务的投入。最后，也是拟议研究的重点，研究还表明，我们对衰老的负面刻板印象可能会对成绩产生负面影响，而不是年龄对成绩的任何不可避免的影响。本文提出的研究将使用刻板印象威胁框架更彻底地检验这一可能性。刻板印象威胁被认为是当刻板印象群体的成员(例如，老年人)处于可能确认刻板印象的位置(例如，正在接受记忆测试)时发生的。在这种情况下，假设个体的焦虑和评估恐惧加剧，这反过来会对他们的表现产生负面影响。建议进行六项独立的研究，以考察可能在老年人中引发刻板印象威胁的情况以及影响其影响的因素。这类研究对于帮助我们了解(A)与年龄差异有关的记忆表现的因素，(B)刻板印象威胁的操作可能在多大程度上影响与衰老相关的能力评估的有效性，以及(C)刻板印象威胁对老年人在可能被刻板印象的日常情景(例如工作环境)中的表现的潜在影响方面，具有重要意义。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Many negative stereotypes about older adults exist in our culture. One of the most pervasive relates to the belief that old age is characterized by traits such as incompetence, slowing, and forgetfulness, and that these traits are inevitable aspects of the aging process. Whereas there is considerable scientific evidence that demonstrates declining cognitive skills, there is emerging evidence that suggests a less pessimistic view of aging. For example, the effects of aging on memory are not universal, in that there are certain types of memory skills that exhibit minimal change with aging. Second, there is also emerging evidence that the degree to which age differences in memory are observed is influenced by situational factors that affect older adults' motivations and engagement in the task. Finally, and the focus of the proposed research, research also suggests that our negative stereotypes of aging may negatively affect performance independently of any inevitable effects of aging on performance. The research proposed herein will more thoroughly examine this possibility using the stereotype threat framework. Stereotype threat is thought to occur when members of a stereotyped group (e.g., older adults) are put into a position of potentially confirming the stereotype (e.g., being tested for memory). In such a situation, it is assumed that the individual's anxiety and evaluation apprehension is heightened, which in turn negatively affects their performance. Six separate studies are proposed to examine the situations that might induce stereotype threat in older adults as well as the factors that underlie its influence. Such research is important in terms of helping us to understand (a) the factors associated with age differences in memory performance, (b) the extent to which the validity of aging-related ability assessments might be affected by the operation of stereotype threat, and (c) the potential impact of stereotype threat on the performance of older adults in everyday situations in which they might be stereotyped (e.g., work settings).