@article{hess_park_couto_fung_rothermund_2024, title={Selective Engagement in Preparations for Aging}, volume={79}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbad167}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={2}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Park, Jeongsoo and Couto, M. Clara P. de Paula and Fung, Helene H. and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2024}, month={Feb} }
 @article{dieffenderfer_brewer_noonan_smith_eichenlaub_haley_jacks_lobaton_neupert_hess_et al._2023, title={A Wearable System for Continuous Monitoring and Assessment of Speech, Gait, and Cognitive Decline for Early Diagnosis of ADRD}, ISSN={["1558-4615"]}, DOI={10.1109/EMBC40787.2023.10339986}, abstractNote={Early detection of cognitive decline is essential to study mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease in order to develop targeted interventions and prevent or stop the progression of dementia. This requires continuous and longitudinal assessment and tracking of the related physiological and behavioral changes during daily life. In this paper, we present a low cost and low power wearable system custom designed to track the trends in speech, gait, and cognitive stress while also considering the important human factor needs such as privacy and compliance. In the form factors of a wristband and waist-patch, this multimodal, multi-sensor system measures inertial signals, sound, heart rate, electrodermal activity and pulse transit time. A total power consumption of 2.6 mW without any duty cycling allows for more than 3 weeks of run time between charges when 1500 mAh batteries are used.Clinical Relevance— Much earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias may be possible by continuous monitoring of physiological and behavioral state using application specific wearable sensors during the activities of daily life.}, journal={2023 45TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY SOCIETY, EMBC}, author={Dieffenderfer, James and Brewer, Alec and Noonan, Maxwell A. and Smith, Madeline and Eichenlaub, Emily and Haley, Katarina L. and Jacks, Adam and Lobaton, Edgar and Neupert, Shevaun D. and Hess, Thomas M. and et al.}, year={2023} }
 @article{cohn-schwartz_couto_fung_graf_hess_liou_nikitin_rothermund_2023, title={Contact With Older Adults Is Related to Positive Age Stereotypes and Self-Views of Aging: The Older You Are the More You Profit}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbad038}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Cohn-Schwartz, Ella and Couto, M. Clara de Paula and Fung, Helene H. and Graf, Sylvie and Hess, Thomas M. and Liou, Shyhnan and Nikitin, Jana and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2023}, month={Mar} }
 @article{couto_nikitin_graf_fung_hess_liou_rothermund_2023, title={Do we all perceive experiences of age discrimination in the same way? Cross-cultural differences in perceived age discrimination and its association with life satisfaction}, volume={20}, ISSN={["1613-9380"]}, DOI={10.1007/s10433-023-00790-x}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={1}, journal={EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGEING}, author={Couto, M. Clara P. de Paula and Nikitin, Jana and Graf, Sylvie and Fung, Helene H. and Hess, Thomas M. and Liou, Shyhnan and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2023}, month={Dec} }
 @article{park_hess_fung_kornadt_rothermund_2022, title={A longitudinal study of the effects of well-being and perceived control on preparations for old age: moderation effects of contexts}, ISSN={["1613-9380"]}, DOI={10.1007/s10433-022-00728-9}, abstractNote={Extending research on determinants of preparations for old age across adulthood, we examined the relationship between well-being, perceived control, and preparations for old age over time, along with variation in the strength of these relationships depending on domains of functioning, cultures, and age. We analyzed longitudinal data from the Ageing as Future study assessing changes in well-being, perceived control, and preparations in four different life domains (social relations, finances, work, and health) across a five-year period collected from adults aged from 30 to 85 years in Germany (N = 623), Hong Kong (N = 317), and the USA (N = 315). Positive feelings about one's current situation predicted greater perceived control five years later, and vice versa. Also, perceived control and preparations were positively associated over time, with only a few exceptions within each domain. For example, high control beliefs were related to subsequent greater preparations and well-being within the domain of social relations and finances, with weak effects of culture. These results suggest that current well-being may promote adaptive behaviors in later life, with the accumulated effects over time. Thus, focusing on how to improve our well-being may promote engagement in preparations for old age. Our results also indicate that these relations in our model vary by contexts, highlighting the importance of variability in age-related processes.}, journal={EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGEING}, author={Park, Jeongsoo and Hess, Thomas M. and Fung, Helene H. and Kornadt, Anna and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2022}, month={Sep} }
 @article{hess_neupert_lothary_2022, title={Aging attitudes and changes in the costs of cognitive engagement in older adults over 5 years.}, volume={37}, ISSN={1939-1498 0882-7974}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pag0000685}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000685}, abstractNote={The costs associated with performing a specific activity may play an important role in determining engagement, potentially impacting the willingness of older adults to engage in activities-particularly those with high demands-that may have benefits for physical and cognitive health. The present study examined changes in both objective (effort expenditure) and subjective (perceived task demands) costs associated with engagement in a cognitively challenging memory-scan task across a 5-year period in 163 older adults aged 64-81. Consistent with assumptions of selective engagement theory (SET; Hess, 2014), the effort associated with performing the task-as assessed by systolic blood pressure responses-was observed to increase over time. Subjective assessments of costs, as assessed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration task load index (NASA TLX), were also observed to increase. In addition, the increases in both objective and subjective costs were greatest at high levels of task demands. We further found that both the effort and, to a lesser extent, perceived costs associated with performance were moderated by aging attitudes. Specifically, more positive attitudes were associated with greater effort expenditure and lower perceived costs. These findings suggest that negative attitudes about aging may have detrimental effects on perceived ability to perform challenging tasks. Given the importance of costs in determining activity participation, promoting positive aging attitudes along with more realistic perceptions of task demands may provide important means for promoting engagement in beneficial activities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).}, number={4}, journal={Psychology and Aging}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Neupert, Shevaun D. and Lothary, Allura F.}, year={2022}, month={Jun}, pages={456–468} }
 @article{paula couto_fung_graf_hess_liou_nikitin_rothermund_2022, title={Antecedents and Consequences of Endorsing Prescriptive Views of Active Aging and Altruistic Disengagement}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1664-1078"]}, DOI={10.3389/fpsyg.2022.807726}, abstractNote={In this study, we investigated endorsement of two types of prescriptive views of aging, namely active aging (e.g., prescriptions for older adults to stay fit and healthy and to maintain an active and productive lifestyle) and altruistic disengagement (e.g., prescriptions for older adults to behave altruistically toward the younger generation by granting young people access to positions and resources). The study comprised a large international sample of middle-aged and older adults (N= 2,900), covering the age range from 40 to 90 years. Participants rated their personal endorsement of prescriptive views of active aging and altruistic disengagement targeting older adults in general (i.e., “In my personal opinion, older adults should…”). Findings showed that endorsement was higher for prescriptions for active aging than for prescriptions for altruistic disengagement. Age groups in the sample differed regarding their endorsement of both prescriptive views of active aging and altruistic disengagement with older adults showing higher endorsement than middle-aged adults did. Prescriptive views of active aging and altruistic disengagement related positively to each other and to the superordinate social belief that older adults should not become a burden, which attests to their functional similarity. In contrast, prescriptive views of active aging and altruistic disengagement were associated with psychological adjustment in opposite ways, with endorsement of active aging (vs. altruistic disengagement) being related to better (vs. worse) adjustment outcomes such as life satisfaction and subjective health. Our findings highlight the internalization of prescriptive views of aging in older people and their implications for their development and well-being.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY}, author={Paula Couto, M. Clara and Fung, Helene H. and Graf, Sylvie and Hess, Thomas M. and Liou, Shyhnan and Nikitin, Jana and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2022}, month={Feb} }
 @article{hess_park_fung_rothermund_2022, title={Biases in Retrospective Perceptions of Changes in Well-Being Associated With Aging Attitudes}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbac100}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Park, Jeongsoo and Fung, Helene H. and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2022}, month={Jul} }
 @article{couto_ekerdt_fung_hess_rothermund_2022, title={What will you do with all that time? Changes in leisure activities after retirement are determined by age-related self-views and preparation}, volume={231}, ISSN={["1873-6297"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103795}, abstractNote={Retirement is a normative life transition that liberates the individual from the external obligations of employment, being a catalyzer of leisure activity engagement. However, the individual's motivations to engage in leisure activities in the time that is gained after retirement may depend on their future self-views (i.e., views of their own ageing) as well as on their levels of preparation for age-related changes. In this study, therefore, we aim to examine longitudinal changes in levels of engagement in leisure activities that occur around the age of retirement as being influenced by views on ageing and preparation for old age. The sample consisted of 451 persons aged 50-65 years at baseline who participated in the Ageing as Future study at two time points 5 years apart. Participants were split in three age-matched groups: recently retired (in between baseline and follow-up), already retired (at baseline), and individuals who were still working (at follow-up). Findings indicated that changes in levels of leisure differed between groups. Compared to both already retired and still working participants, recently retired participants increased their levels of engagement in leisure activities. Positive views on ageing in the leisure domain (at baseline) predicted subsequent increases in activity levels but group and levels of preparation qualified this effect. A combination of positive views on ageing and preparation for age-related changes is needed for one to make use of the time that is gained with retirement, highlighting their role as determinants of behavior in response to normative life events in later life.}, journal={ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA}, author={Couto, M. Clara P. de Paula and Ekerdt, David J. and Fung, Helene H. and Hess, Thomas M. and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2022}, month={Nov} }
 @article{hess_knight_2021, title={Adult Age Differences in the Effects of Chronic Mental Fatigue on Task-Related Fatigue, Appraisals, and Performance}, volume={7}, ISSN={["2333-8121"]}, DOI={10.1037/mot0000216}, abstractNote={Engagement in potentially beneficial activities is assumed to be based partially on perceived costs and benefits. Mental fatigue may be one factor that affects perceived costs. We examined age differences in both chronic and situational mental fatigue, and their relation to task perceptions and engagement levels. Younger (M age = 32.6) and older (M age = 73.1) adults completed questionnaires measuring subjective mental fatigue, physical and mental health, and motivational states, along with several assessments of cognitive ability. In addition, assessments of effort expenditure (systolic blood pressure) and task difficulty were collected during performance of a cognitively demanding memory-scan task. Two components of chronic mental fatigue (CMF) relating to affect and motivation were identified. Although the structure of CMF did not vary with age, CMF was differentially predictive of engagement and appraisal levels across groups. As CMF-Affect levels increased, older adults' task-difficulty appraisals increased more than those of younger adults. In addition, CMF-Affect was positively associated with levels of engagement in the young, but negatively associated in the old as memory load increased. Older adults also exhibited higher levels of situational fatigue than did the young, as evidenced by increased levels of effort expenditure as both time on task and objective demands increased. However, little relationship existed between chronic and situational mental fatigue in either age group. These findings suggest that the affective aspect of CMF is particularly consequential in older adults, with both task appraisals and engagement levels being negatively affected when fatigue is high.}, number={2}, journal={MOTIVATION SCIENCE}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Knight, Rebekah C.}, year={2021}, month={Jun}, pages={122–132} }
 @article{rothermund_couto_fung_graf_hess_liou_nikitin_2021, title={Age-Related Attributions of Experienced Changes in Life: Origins and Implications}, volume={76}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbaa160}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={5}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Rothermund, Klaus and Couto, Maria Clara Pinheiro de Paula and Fung, Helene H. and Graf, Sylvie and Hess, Thomas M. and Liou, Shyhnan and Nikitin, Jana}, year={2021}, month={May}, pages={881–893} }
 @article{hess_freund_tobler_2021, title={Effort Mobilization and Healthy Aging}, volume={76}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbab030}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Freund, Alexandra M. and Tobler, Philippe N.}, year={2021}, month={Oct}, pages={S135–S144} }
 @article{freund_hennecke_brandstatter_martin_boker_charles_fishbach_hess_heckhausen_gow_et al._2021, title={Motivation and Healthy Aging: A Heuristic Model}, volume={76}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbab128}, abstractNote={Building on the seminal definition of "healthy aging" by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2015; 2020), we present a model of motivation and healthy aging that is aimed at identifying the central psychological constructs and processes for understanding what older persons value, and how they can attain and maintain these valued aspects of their lives. This model places goals at its center, and then proceeds from motivational processes of goal setting, pursuit, and disengagement, to contextual factors (cultural, social, technological, physical, organizational, and life-history related aspects) that provide opportunities and constraints to the healthy aging of individuals. We briefly introduce each of these constructs and processes, thereby setting the scene for the articles included in this supplement that each address one or more of the facets of the heuristic model of motivation and healthy aging.}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Freund, Alexandra M. and Hennecke, Marie and Brandstatter, Veronika and Martin, Mike and Boker, Steven M. and Charles, Susan T. and Fishbach, Ayelet and Hess, Thomas M. and Heckhausen, Jutta and Gow, Alan J. and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Oct}, pages={S97–S104} }
 @article{hess_lothary_erica l. o'brien_growney_delarosa_2021, title={Predictors of Engagement in Young and Older Adults: The Role of Specific Activity Experience}, volume={36}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000561}, abstractNote={Activity that places demands on cognitive resources has positive effects on cognitive health in old age. To further understand determinants of age-group differences in participation, we examined how negative aging stereotypes and responses associated with a cognitively challenging activity influenced future willingness to engage in that activity. Sixty-nine young (20-40 years) and 80 older (63-84 years) adults performed a letter-number sequencing (LNS) task at different levels of demand for 15 min, during which systolic blood pressure responses-a measure of effort mobilization-and subjective perceptions of task demands were assessed. Approximately half the participants were primed with a negative aging stereotype prior to this task. Following the LNS task, participants completed an effort-discounting task, with resulting subjective values indicating their willingness to perform the task at each level of demand. As expected, both subjective and objective indicators of cognitive demands as well as performance were associated with future willingness to engage in a difficult task, with these effects being significantly greater for older adults. In addition, although stereotype activation influenced older adults' engagement levels in the LNS task, it did not moderate willingness. Together, the results indicate that, relative to younger adults, older adults' decisions to engage in cognitively challenging activities are disproportionately affected by their subjective perceptions of demands. Interestingly, actual engagement with the task and associated success result in reduced perceptions of difficulty and greater willingness to engage. Thus, overcoming faulty and discouraging task perceptions may promote older adults' engagement in demanding but potentially beneficial activities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).}, number={2}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Lothary, Allura F. and Erica L. O'Brien and Growney, Claire M. and DeLaRosa, Jesse}, year={2021}, month={Mar}, pages={131–142} }
 @article{erica l. o'brien_hess_2020, title={Differential focus on probability and losses between young and older adults in risky decision-making}, volume={27}, ISSN={["1744-4128"]}, DOI={10.1080/13825585.2019.1642442}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT We examined young and older adults’ use of descriptive information about risk (i.e., probability and expected value) in financial decision-making. In Experiment 1, participants chose between lotteries in pairs of bets that offered either two risky gains or one risky gain and one sure gain. Whereas they showed a strong and indiscriminate preference for high-probability gambles in risky-risky pairs, they selected sure options at high rates and risky options at low rates in risky-sure pairs, with slightly stronger effects in older relative to young adults due to age differences in ability. Experiment 2 involved the same task but in terms of losses. Participants, especially older adults, preferred low-probability gambles not accounted for by age differences in ability. Results suggest minimal consideration of expected value and a strong focus on probabilities in decision-making. They also suggest that cognitive ability and chronic goals differentially influence age effects depending on risk context.}, number={4}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Erica L. O'Brien and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2020}, month={Jul}, pages={532–552} }
 @article{kornadt_hess_rothermund_2020, title={Domain-Specific Views on Aging and Preparation for Age-Related Changes-Development and Validation of Three Brief Scales}, volume={75}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gby055}, abstractNote={Objectives
We developed brief versions of our questionnaires to assess domain-specific views on aging (age stereotypes and future self-views) and preparation for age-related changes.


Methods
The brief scales were validated in an online study with N = 301 participants aged 23 - 88 years.


Results
Mean values across domains show a differentiated picture for all three constructs, yielding evidence for the multi-dimensionality of views on aging and preparation for age-related changes. Rating profiles for the brief versions were similar to the long versions of the questionnaires, attesting to the equivalence of the brief and long scales. Within-domain correlations between the three constructs were also higher than between-domain correlations, further substantiating the claim of domain-specificity with regard to the predictive validity of the brief scales.


Discussion
The new brief versions of the scales can thus be recommended for a differentiated assessment of views on aging and preparation for age-related changes when short forms of measurement are required.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Kornadt, Anna E. and Hess, Thomas M. and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2020}, month={Feb}, pages={303–307} }
 @article{erica l. o'brien_hess_2020, title={Perceived Benefits and Costs Contribute to Young and Older Adults' Selectivity in Social Relationships}, volume={33}, ISSN={["1662-971X"]}, DOI={10.1024/1662-9647/a000218}, abstractNote={ Abstract. This article explores the influence of perceived benefits and costs on willingness to engage in social interactions in 32 young adults aged 20 to 40 years and 38 older adults aged 65 to 85 years. Results showed (1) increases in perceived benefits and importance of each relationship but decreases in perceived costs associated with increases in network centrality, (2) reduced willingness in older adults to engage with social partners for whom perceived costs outweighed benefits, and (3) perceived costs and benefits subsumed the effects of the affective qualities of social interactions. Findings support an analysis of social behavior based on the selective engagement theory ( Hess, 2014 ), with selection effects in willingness to engage in social interactions related to perceived benefits and costs. }, number={1}, journal={GEROPSYCH-THE JOURNAL OF GERONTOPSYCHOLOGY AND GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY}, author={Erica L. O'Brien and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2020}, month={Mar}, pages={42–51} }
 @article{park_fung_rothermund_hess_2020, title={The Impact of Perceived Control and Future-Self Views on Preparing for the Old Age: Moderating Influences of Age, Culture, and Context}, volume={75}, ISBN={1758-5368}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbz138}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={5}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Park, Jeongsoo and Fung, Helene H. and Rothermund, Klaus and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2020}, month={Jun}, pages={E18–E28} }
 @article{park_hess_2020, title={The effects of personality and aging attitudes on well-being in different life domains}, volume={24}, ISSN={["1364-6915"]}, DOI={10.1080/13607863.2019.1660849}, abstractNote={Abstract Objectives Personality plays a major role in determining the way people adjust to life experiences, ultimately affecting life satisfaction. Aging attitudes also impact well-being, but there is little research on whether these personality and attitudinal effects reflect the same mechanism. The purpose of this study was to examine whether aging attitudes mediate the relationship between personality and well-being across seven different domains of everyday functioning, and whether this effect depends on age. Methods Data from 563 adults ranging in age from 30 to 89 were used. Sociodemographic information as well as the Big Five Inventory, aging attitudes, and well-being (i.e. current self-views and life satisfaction) in seven different life domains was assessed. Results The mediating effect of aging attitudes in the relationship between personality and well-being was strong for neuroticism, conscientiousness, and agreeableness and varied across domains. Significant mediation effects were limited for openness and extraversion. Significant moderated mediations were rather limited but the effects were stronger in later life. Discussion These results suggest that personality influences aging attitudes, which in turn affect well-being. Further, our results indicate that such relationships are context-specific, suggesting that the global assessments of attitudes and well-being may not fully characterize significant aging outcomes.}, number={12}, journal={AGING & MENTAL HEALTH}, author={Park, Jeongsoo and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2020}, month={Dec}, pages={2063–2072} }
 @article{growney_hess_2019, title={Affective Influences on Older Adults' Attention to Self-Relevant Negative Information}, volume={74}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbx108}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVES
Some research suggests that older adults have a tendency to be biased toward positive information, but may be more willing to attend to potentially beneficial negative information in certain situations. Following the mood-as-resource framework, one possibility is that older adults may be more willing to consider negative information when in a positive mood, with positive affect serving as a buffer to the adverse emotional consequences that may follow.


METHOD
Young (n = 62) and older (n = 65) adults completed a difficult cognitive task before completing either a positive or negative experience recall task, depending upon assigned condition. Afterwards, they rated their interest in viewing their strengths and weaknesses on the previously completed task, and then selected and viewed different types of feedback (i.e., strengths or weaknesses).


RESULTS
Older adults in the positive condition selected more weaknesses to view and spent more time viewing weaknesses than older adults in the negative condition. There were no differences across conditions in behavioral results for young adults. Ratings of interest in viewing different types of feedback did not correspond with actual feedback viewing behavior.


DISCUSSION
Results highlight the importance of considering older adults' pre-existing mood before addressing self-relevant information that may be negative but important.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Growney, Claire M. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2019}, month={May}, pages={642–651} }
 @article{hess_growney_lothary_2019, title={Motivation Moderates the Impact of Aging Stereotypes on Effort Expenditure}, volume={34}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000291}, abstractNote={The impact of aging stereotypes on task engagement was examined. Older adults (N = 144, ages 65 to 85) were exposed to primes designed to activate positive or negative stereotypes about aging, with half of the individuals in each stereotype group also assigned to a high-accountability condition to enhance motivation. Participants performed a memory-scan task comprising 2 levels of demands (memory sets of 4 or 7 items), with 2 blocks (5 min each) at each level. Systolic blood pressure recorded throughout the task was used to monitor engagement levels. High accountability was associated with greater engagement at the highest level of task demands. Negative stereotype activation also resulted in elevated engagement levels, but only during the initial trial blocks in the high-accountability condition. Lowest levels of engagement were associated with low accountability, with no difference between stereotype conditions. An analogous differential analysis on these same data using need for cognition and attitudes toward aging as measures of motivation and stereotypes revealed similar trends. Specifically, negative aging attitudes were associated with elevated levels of engagement only in individuals who were high in intrinsic motivation, with the effects greatest at the highest levels of task demands. The results provide a more nuanced perspective on the impact of negative aging stereotypes than suggested in previous research, with the impact on behavior moderated by situational and personal factors associated with motivation. Although potentially negative in the long run, elevated cardiovascular responses indicative of task engagement may represent an adaptive response to support performance.}, number={1}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Growney, Claire M. and Lothary, Allura F.}, year={2019}, month={Feb}, pages={56–67} }
 @article{kornadt_voss_fung_hess_rothermund_2019, title={Preparation for Old Age: The Role of Cultural Context and Future Perceptions}, volume={74}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gby075}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVES
Preparation for age-related changes is a central task in midlife and older age and a determinant of functioning and well-being in later life. If and how people prepare is influenced by societal and institutional circumstances and also by beliefs about aging and the future.


METHOD
We assessed domain-specific preparation for age-related changes in samples from three countries with high population aging but different premises regarding preparation, and analyzed data from N = 1,830 individuals aged 35-85 years from urban regions in Germany, the United States, as well as China (Hong Kong).


RESULTS
Preparation was universally low in China, but the amount of differences between countries varied depending on life domain. While we found pronounced differences between all three countries for domains related to public provision (such as health care, work, and finances), East-West differences in preparation emerged for domains regarding social relations and end-of-life concerns. The concreteness of time perspective and future self-views mediated country differences in preparation.


DISCUSSION
Our results speak for the culture-specificity of preparing for old age and we deliver evidence on psychological variables that might explain these differences.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Kornadt, Anna E. and Voss, Peggy and Fung, Helene H. and Hess, Thomas M. and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2019}, month={May}, pages={609–619} }
 @article{growney_hess_2019, title={The Influence of Mood Versus Relevant Self-Perceptions in Older Adults' Interest in Negative Health-Related Information}, volume={34}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000333}, abstractNote={Past research suggests that, although older adults may tend to prefer positive over negative information, they may be more willing to consider relevant negative information when in a positive affective state (Growney & Hess, 2017). However, the underlying mechanism involved in this phenomenon is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to identify this mechanism and disentangle mood and self-perceptions as potential personal resources. In Study 1, young and older adults completed either a positive or negative mood manipulation task, or a health manipulation task designed to accentuate positive or negative perceptions of one’s health-related behaviors. Participants then selected three of six health-related articles to read based on their headlines, half of which were positively worded and half of which were negative, but offered self-corrective information. Participants in the positive health condition selected more negative health-related articles to read than those in the negative health condition, with the effect being specific to older adults. Simple manipulations of mood had no effect on article selection, suggesting that older adults used their positive self-perceptions as a resource for considering negative information. In addition, endorsement of information goals mediated the relationship between manipulated health behavior perceptions and article selections for both young and older adults. Results from Study 2 demonstrate that effects are specific to situations with high-informative versus low-informative content. Our findings suggest that older adults’ willingness to focus on negative self-relevant information is bolstered by enhancing self-perceptions of self within the domain of interest.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Growney, Claire M. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2019}, month={May}, pages={348–361} }
 @article{voss_kornadt_hess_fung_rothermund_2018, title={A World of Difference? Domain-Specific Views on Aging in China, the US, and Germany}, volume={33}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000237}, abstractNote={Research on cross-national differences in views on aging has often focused on a comparison between Asian and Western countries. However, the results are mixed showing either more positive views in Asia, no difference at all, or even more positive views in Western countries. A potential moderator of country differences that might explain some of the heterogeneity is the fact that views on aging differ in their content and valence depending on life domains such as health versus family relations. Therefore, our aim was to systematically address domain-specific views on aging in a cross-national study, also considering that cross-national differences are age group-specific. We examined differences in views on aging between China, the United States, and Germany in eight life domains using samples with a broad age range. For most of the domains, cross-national differences indicated more negative views on aging in China compared with the Western countries and more positive views among the American compared with the German participants. Intriguingly, the differences between China and the United States or Germany were absent or even reversed in the domains friends, personality, and finances. Cross-national differences also varied by age group. Our results show that explanations of cross-national differences in views of aging probably do not apply uniformly across all life domains or age groups. They underline the importance of acknowledging the domain-specific nature of views on aging in cross-national research.}, number={4}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Voss, Peggy and Kornadt, Anna E. and Hess, Thomas M. and Fung, Helene H. and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2018}, month={Jun}, pages={595–606} }
 @article{queen_hess_2018, title={Linkages between resources, motivation, and engagement in everyday activities.}, volume={4}, ISSN={2333-8121 2333-8113}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/MOT0000061}, DOI={10.1037/MOT0000061}, abstractNote={The goal of this research was to examine the linkage between personal resources, intrinsic motivation, and participation in everyday activities. It was hypothesized that the reductions in resources in later life would be associated with reduced motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities, leading to reduction in participation in such activities in everyday life. To test this, we utilized data from the 2010 and 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey. We used structural equation modeling to construct latent factors associated with health resources, cognitive resources, and intrinsic motivation. Cognitive and health resources were positively associated with intrinsic motivation, which in turn partially mediated the association between these resources and engagement in cognitively demanding everyday activities. Some variation in the fit of the model was observed across sexes, and the predictive power of the model was somewhat attenuated in the oldest old (ages 81+). The results support expectations derived from selective engagement theory (Hess, 2014), which argues that increases in the costs associated with cognitive activity in later life negatively affect the motivation to engage in these potentially beneficial activities.}, number={1}, journal={Motivation Science}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Queen, Tara L. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2018}, month={Mar}, pages={26–38} }
 @article{wing_iyengar_hess_labar_huettel_cabeza_2018, title={Neural mechanisms underlying subsequent memory for personal beliefs:An fMRI study}, volume={18}, ISSN={["1531-135X"]}, DOI={10.3758/s13415-018-0563-y}, abstractNote={Many fMRI studies have examined the neural mechanisms supporting emotional memory for stimuli that generate emotion rather automatically (e.g., a picture of a dangerous animal or of appetizing food). However, far fewer studies have examined how memory is influenced by emotion related to social and political issues (e.g., a proposal for large changes in taxation policy), which clearly vary across individuals. In order to investigate the neural substrates of affective and mnemonic processes associated with personal opinions, we employed an fMRI task wherein participants rated the intensity of agreement/disagreement to sociopolitical belief statements paired with neural face pictures. Following the rating phase, participants performed an associative recognition test in which they distinguished identical versus recombined face–statement pairs. The study yielded three main findings: behaviorally, the intensity of agreement ratings was linked to greater subjective emotional arousal as well as enhanced high-confidence subsequent memory. Neurally, statements that elicited strong (vs. weak) agreement or disagreement were associated with greater activation of the amygdala. Finally, a subsequent memory analysis showed that the behavioral memory advantage for statements generating stronger ratings was dependent on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Together, these results both underscore consistencies in neural systems supporting emotional arousal and suggest a modulation of arousal-related encoding mechanisms when emotion is contingent on referencing personal beliefs.}, number={2}, journal={COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE}, author={Wing, Erik A. and Iyengar, Vijeth and Hess, Thomas M. and LaBar, Kevin S. and Huettel, Scott A. and Cabeza, Roberto}, year={2018}, month={Apr}, pages={216–231} }
 @article{kornadt_hess_voss_rothermund_2018, title={Subjective Age Across the Life Span: A Differentiated, Longitudinal Approach}, volume={73}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbw072}, abstractNote={Objectives
How old people feel compared with their actual age, their so-called "subjective age" (SA), is a central indicator of individual aging experiences and predicts developmental outcomes, such as health and mortality, across the life span. We investigated the multidimensional structure of SA with respect to specific life domains, focusing on domain differences as well as age group differences and age-related changes. Furthermore, we inspected the relationship between SA and how people perceive their future as old persons (future self-views).


Method
We assessed these variables in a sample of 593 persons who completed a questionnaire at two time points 4 years apart (baseline-T1; follow up-T2) and who were aged 30-80 years at T1.


Results
SA differed across life domains and age groups, and the amount of change in SA across time was also contingent on life domain. Future self-views at T1 predicted subsequent changes in SA, with more negative self-views being associated with an increase in SA, especially for middle-aged participants for whom the transition to older age is imminent.


Discussion
Our results provide support for a multidimensional view of subjective aging experiences. They highlight the importance of a differentiated investigation of subjective aging constructs and their relations for understanding how these variables shape the aging process.}, number={5}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Kornadt, Anna E. and Hess, Thomas M. and Voss, Peggy and Rothermund, Klaus}, year={2018}, month={Jul}, pages={767–777} }
 @article{hess_growney_o'brien_neupert_sherwood_2018, title={The role of cognitive costs, attitudes about aging, and intrinsic motivation in predicting engagement in everyday activities.}, volume={33}, ISSN={1939-1498 0882-7974}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pag0000289}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000289}, abstractNote={Engagement in cognitively demanding everyday activities has been shown to benefit cognitive health in later life. We investigated the factors that influence engagement, with specific interest in determining the extent to which the costs of engaging cognitive resources are associated with intrinsic motivation and, ultimately, participation in everyday activities. Older adults (N = 153) aged from 65 to 81 years completed a challenging cognitive task, with the costs of cognitive engagement—operationalized as the effort required to maintain performance—assessed using systolic blood pressure responses (SBP-R). We also assessed participation in everyday activities using both 2-year retrospective reports and five daily reports over a 5-week period. Structural models revealed that lower levels of costs were associated with more positive attitudes about aging, which in turn were associated with higher levels of intrinsic motivation. Motivation was subsequently predictive of everyday activity engagement, with the effect being specific to those activities thought to place demands on cognitive resources. The measure of engagement had minimal impact on the nature of the observed effects, suggesting that the retrospective and weekly assessments were tapping into similar constructs. Taken together, the results are consistent with expectations derived from Selective Engagement Theory (Hess, 2014), which argues that engagement in demanding activities is related to the cost associated with such engagement, which in turn leads to selective participation through changes in motivation.}, number={6}, journal={Psychology and Aging}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Growney, Claire M. and O'Brien, Erica L. and Neupert, Shevaun D. and Sherwood, Andrew}, year={2018}, month={Sep}, pages={953–964} }
 @article{hess_popham_growney_2017, title={AGE-RELATED EFFECTS ON MEMORY FOR SOCIAL STIMULI: THE ROLE OF VALENCE, AROUSAL, AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSES}, volume={43}, ISSN={["1096-4657"]}, DOI={10.1080/0361073x.2017.1276374}, abstractNote={Background/Study Context: Previous research (Hess et al., 2013, Psychology and Aging, 28, 853–863) suggested that age-based positivity effects in memory were attenuated with social stimuli. This research examined the degree to which this generalized across arousal levels associated with social images. Variations in approach and avoidance responses to individual images were also examined, along with age differences in their relationship to memory performance. Methods: In Experiment 1, young (22–43 years) and older (65–85 years) adults recalled positive and negative social scenes that were high or low in arousal. In Experiment 2, young (20–40 years) and older (65–83 years) adults viewed and recalled the same scenes under instructions designed to alter arousal, and approach and avoidance ratings for each image were recorded. Results: In Experiment 1, age differences in recall were confined to high-arousal, negative images, with young adults exhibiting superior memory relative to older adults. There was no evidence of an age-related positivity effect for low-arousal social scenes. This result was replicated in Experiment 2, but distancing instructions minimized the age difference in recall for high-arousal, negative images. Approach and avoidance ratings differentially predicted recall across age groups, with stronger associations in the young. Conclusion: The results are consistent with emerging evidence demonstrating that valence-based biases associated with aging (e.g., positivity effect) are specific to the context and stimulus characteristics. Differences in prediction of recall responses from approach and avoidance ratings across age groups suggested that the observed effects in memory reflected differences in responses to the characteristics of stimuli.}, number={2}, journal={EXPERIMENTAL AGING RESEARCH}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Popham, Lauren E. and Growney, Claire M.}, year={2017}, pages={105–123} }
 @article{hess_erica l. o'brien_voss_kornadt_rothermund_fung_popham_2017, title={Context Influences on the Relationship Between Views of Aging and Subjective Age: The Moderating Role of Culture and Domain of Functioning}, volume={32}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000181}, abstractNote={Subjective age has been shown to reliably predict a variety of psychological and physical health outcomes, yet our understanding of its determinants is still quite limited. Using data from the Aging as Future project, the authors examined the degree to which views of aging influence subjective age and how this influence varies across cultures and domains of everyday functioning. Using data from 1,877 adults aged from 30 to 95 years of age collected in China, Germany, and the United States, they assessed how general attitudes about aging and perceptions of oneself as an older adult influenced subjective age estimates in 8 different domains of functioning. More positive attitudes about aging were associated with older subjective ages, whereas more positive views of self in old age were associated with younger subjective age. It is hypothesized that these effects are reflective of social-comparison processes and self-protective mechanisms. These influences varied considerably over contexts, with views of aging having a greater impact in domains associated with stronger negative stereotypes of aging (e.g., health) compared to those with more positive ones (e.g., family). Culture also moderated the impact of aging views in terms of the strength of prediction, direction of effect, and age of greatest influence, presumably due to cultural differences in the salience and strength of aging-related belief systems across contexts. The results illustrate the contextual sensitivity of subjective age and highlight the role played by an individual’s views of old age—both in general and regarding oneself—in determining their own experience of aging.}, number={5}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Erica L. O'Brien and Voss, Peggy and Kornadt, Anna E. and Rothermund, Klaus and Fung, Helene H. and Popham, Lauren E.}, year={2017}, month={Aug}, pages={419–431} }
 @article{hess_o’brien_growney_hafer_2017, title={Use of descriptive and experiential information in decision making by young and older adults}, volume={25}, ISSN={1382-5585 1744-4128}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2017.1327014}, DOI={10.1080/13825585.2017.1327014}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Age differences involving decision by description versus decision by experience were examined using the same general task structure to facilitate comparisons across decision types. Experiment 1 compared younger (19–43 years) and older (65–85 years) adults in four different experimental conditions involving a choice between a low-risk, low-return bet versus a high-risk, high-return bet. Experiment 2 compared young (18–27 years) to older (60–87 years) adults using similar experimental conditions, but with decisions involving a risky versus a certain option. Contrary to expectations, minimal differences were observed between ages in either study. Higher levels of ability and numeracy were associated with better performance and greater ability to benefit from experience, but the impact of these factors was not moderated by age. The results suggest that factors other than the simple distinction between decisions by description versus experience are necessary to characterize the nature of age effects in decision-making.}, number={4}, journal={Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and O’Brien, Erica L. and Growney, Claire M. and Hafer, Julia G.}, year={2017}, month={May}, pages={500–519} }
 @article{hess_smith_sharifian_2016, title={Aging and Effort Expenditure: The Impact of Subjective Perceptions of Task Demands}, volume={31}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/pag0000127}, abstractNote={Engagement in cognitively demanding activities has a positive impact on cognitive health in older adults. Previous work, however, has suggested that the costs associated with engagement increase in later life and influence motivation. We examined how subjective perceptions of these costs varied with age and influenced task engagement. The following questions were of specific interest: (a) Are there age differences in subjective perceptions of cognitive costs? (b) What is the impact of these perceptions on engagement? We tested 39 older (ages 65-84) and 37 younger (20-42) adults on a working memory task. Systolic blood pressure responsivity (SBP-R; reflective of effort) and subjective perceptions of task difficulty were assessed. We found that age was associated with an increase in the perceptions of cognitive costs, and that these subjective perceptions had a stronger impact on older adults' engagement than on that of younger adults. More important, this impact was specific to subjective perceptions of cognitive costs. The results provide further support for the hypothesis that increased costs associated with cognitive engagement influence older adults' willingness to engage cognitive resources, and that these costs in part reflect subjective perceptions that are independent of objective task demands. (PsycINFO Database Record}, number={7}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Smith, Brian T. and Sharifian, Neika}, year={2016}, month={Nov}, pages={653–660} }
 @article{dennis_hess_2016, title={Aging-related gains and losses associated with word production in connected speech}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1744-4128"]}, DOI={10.1080/13825585.2016.1158233}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Older adults have been observed to use more nonnormative, or atypical, words than younger adults in connected speech. We examined whether aging-related losses in word-finding abilities or gains in language expertise underlie these age differences. Sixty younger and 60 older adults described two neutral photographs. These descriptions were processed into word types, and textual analysis was used to identify interrupted speech (e.g., pauses), reflecting word-finding difficulty. Word types were assessed for normativeness, with nonnormative word types defined as those used by six (5%) or fewer participants to describe a particular picture. Accuracy and precision ratings were provided by another sample of 48 high-vocabulary younger and older adults. Older adults produced more interrupted and, as predicted, nonnormative words than younger adults. Older adults were more likely than younger adults to use nonnormative language via interrupted speech, suggesting a compensatory process. However, older adults’ nonnormative words were more precise and trended for having higher accuracy, reflecting expertise. In tasks offering response flexibility, like connected speech, older adults may be able to offset instances of aging-related deficits by maximizing their expertise in other instances.}, number={6}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Dennis, Paul A. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2016}, month={Nov}, pages={638–650} }
 @article{popham_hess_2015, title={Age Differences in the Underlying Mechanisms of Stereotype Threat Effects}, volume={70}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbt093}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVES
The goals of the present study were to (a) examine whether age differences exist in the mechanisms underlying stereotype threat effects on cognitive performance and (b) examine whether emotion regulation abilities may buffer against threat effects on performance.


METHOD
Older and younger adults were exposed to positive or negative age-relevant stereotypes, allowing us to examine the impact of threat on regulatory focus and working memory. Self-reported emotion regulation measures were completed prior to the session.


RESULTS
Older adults' performance under threat suggested a prevention-focused approach to the task, indexed by increased accuracy and reduced speed. The same pattern was observed in younger adults, but the effects were not as strong. Age differences emerged when examining the availability of working memory resources under threat, with young adults showing decrements, whereas older adults did not. Emotion regulation abilities moderated threat effects in young adults but not in older adults.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide support for the notion that stereotype threat may lead to underperformance through somewhat different pathways in older and younger adults. Future research should further examine whether the underlying reason for this age difference is rooted in age-related improvements in emotion regulation.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Popham, Lauren E. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2015}, month={Mar}, pages={223–232} }
 @book{hess_strough_lo?ckenhoff_2015, title={Aging and decision making: Empirical and applied perspectives}, ISBN={9780124171480}, publisher={San Diego, CA, UK: Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier}, year={2015} }
 @article{kistler_hess_howard_pignone_crutchfield_hawley_brenner_ward_lewis_2015, title={Older adults' preferences for colorectal cancer-screening test attributes and test choice}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1177-889X"]}, DOI={10.2147/ppa.s82203}, abstractNote={Background Understanding which attributes of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests drive older adults’ test preferences and choices may help improve decision making surrounding CRC screening in older adults. Materials and methods To explore older adults’ preferences for CRC-screening test attributes and screening tests, we conducted a survey with a discrete choice experiment (DCE), a directly selected preferred attribute question, and an unlabeled screening test-choice question in 116 cognitively intact adults aged 70–90 years, without a history of CRC or inflammatory bowel disease. Each participant answered ten discrete choice questions presenting two hypothetical tests comprised of four attributes: testing procedure, mortality reduction, test frequency, and complications. DCE responses were used to estimate each participant’s most important attribute and to simulate their preferred test among three existing CRC-screening tests. For each individual, we compared the DCE-derived attributes to directly selected attributes, and the DCE-derived preferred test to a directly selected unlabeled test. Results Older adults do not overwhelmingly value any one CRC-screening test attribute or prefer one type of CRC-screening test over other tests. However, small absolute DCE-derived preferences for the testing procedure attribute and for sigmoidoscopy-equivalent screening tests were revealed. Neither general health, functional, nor cognitive health status were associated with either an individual’s most important attribute or most preferred test choice. The DCE-derived most important attribute was associated with each participant’s directly selected unlabeled test choice. Conclusion Older adults’ preferences for CRC-screening tests are not easily predicted. Medical providers should actively explore older adults’ preferences for CRC screening, so that they can order a screening test that is concordant with their patients’ values. Effective interventions are needed to support complex decision making surrounding CRC screening in older adults.}, journal={PATIENT PREFERENCE AND ADHERENCE}, author={Kistler, Christine E. and Hess, Thomas M. and Howard, Kirsten and Pignone, Michael P. and Crutchfield, Trisha M. and Hawley, Sarah T. and Brenner, Alison T. and Ward, Kimberly T. and Lewis, Carmen L.}, year={2015}, pages={1005–1016} }
 @article{smith_hess_2015, title={The impact of motivation and task difficulty on resource engagement: Differential influences on cardiovascular responses of young and older adults.}, volume={1}, ISSN={2333-8121 2333-8113}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/MOT0000012}, DOI={10.1037/MOT0000012}, abstractNote={This study examined whether the level of cognitive engagement older adults were willing to invest is disproportionately influenced by the personal implications of the task, as suggested by Selective Engagement Theory. We experimentally altered the personal implications of the task by manipulating participants accountability for their performance. Young (N = 50) and older (N = 50) adults performed a memory-search task of moderate difficulty but within the capabilities of both age groups. Both physiological (systolic blood pressure responsivity; SBP-R) and subjective (NASA-TLX) measures of cognitive effort were assessed across all difficulty levels. The results replicated findings from previous research that indicated older adults must exert more effort than younger adults to achieve the same level of objective performance. Most importantly, our results showed that older adults were especially sensitive to our accountability manipulation, with the difference in SBP-R between accountability conditions being greater for older than for young adults. Finally, we found that there was little relation between subjective measures of workload and our physiological measures of task engagement. Together, the results of this study provide continued support for the Selective Engagement Theory.}, number={1}, journal={Motivation Science}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Smith, Brian T. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2015}, month={Mar}, pages={22–36} }
 @article{hess_smith_2014, title={Aging and the Impact of Irrelevant Information on Social Judgments}, volume={29}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/a0036730}, abstractNote={We conducted 2 experiments to specifically examine whether older adults are more susceptible to the negative impact of irrelevant evaluative information when making social judgments. Young (ages 20-44), middle-aged (ages 45-63), and older (ages 65-85) adults were presented with descriptions of people consisting of positive and negative traits that varied in relevance to specific occupations. They were asked to either form a general impression based on these traits or to evaluate the person's fitness for the specified occupation. In both studies, evaluative content of the descriptions (i.e., the number of positive minus number of negative traits) was a significant predictor of subjective evaluations. Of prime importance, adults of all ages were similarly able to selectively process relevant versus irrelevant information when occupational fitness evaluations required them to focus on a subset of information in the descriptions. Participants also adjusted the specific types of information used in making judgments, with the relative importance of agentic traits and negative information being greater when making occupation evaluations than when forming impressions. The results suggest that age differences in the processing evaluative information are minimal, and that the availability of well-established knowledge structures can help older adults effectively control the impact of irrelevant evaluative information when making social inferences.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Smith, Brian T.}, year={2014}, month={Sep}, pages={542–553} }
 @article{hess_ennis_2014, title={Assessment of adult age differences in task engagement: The utility of systolic blood pressure}, volume={38}, ISSN={["1573-6644"]}, DOI={10.1007/s11031-014-9433-2}, abstractNote={The constructs of effort and engagement are central to many theoretical frameworks associated with the study of aging. Age differences in the effort associated with effortful cognitive operations have been hypothesized to account for aging effects in ability, and shifting goals and motivation have been hypothesized to be associated with differential levels of engagement across situations in younger and older adults. Unfortunately, the assessment of effort and engagement—constructs that we view as relatively synonymous—has suffered in the field of aging due to the lack of well-validated measures. We suggest that systolic blood pressure might provide an easy and valid means for examining age differences in mental effort, and present evidence in support of its usage. Existing findings clearly support its potential utility, but further empirical and theoretical work is necessary.}, number={6}, journal={MOTIVATION AND EMOTION}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Ennis, Gilda E.}, year={2014}, month={Dec}, pages={844–854} }
 @misc{braver_krug_chiew_kool_westbrook_clement_adcock_barch_botvinick_carver_et al._2014, title={Mechanisms of motivation-cognition interaction: challenges and opportunities}, volume={14}, number={2}, journal={Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience}, author={Braver, T. S. and Krug, M. K. and Chiew, K. S. and Kool, W. and Westbrook, J. A. and Clement, N. J. and Adcock, R. A. and Barch, D. M. and Botvinick, M. M. and Carver, C. S. and et al.}, year={2014}, pages={443–472} }
 @article{hess_2014, title={Selective Engagement of Cognitive Resources: Motivational Influences on Older Adults' Cognitive Functioning}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1745-6924"]}, DOI={10.1177/1745691614527465}, abstractNote={In this article, I present a framework for understanding the impact of aging-related declines in cognitive resources on functioning. I make the assumption that aging is associated with an increase in the costs of cognitive engagement, as reflected in both the effort required to achieve a specific level of task performance and the associated depletion or fatigue effects. I further argue that these costs result in older adults being increasingly selective in the engagement of cognitive resources in response to these declines. This selectivity is reflected in (a) a reduction in the intrinsic motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities, which, in part, accounts for general reductions in engagement in such activities, and (b) greater sensitivity to the self-related implications of a given task. Both processes are adaptive if viewed in terms of resource conservation, but the former may also be maladaptive to the extent that it results in older adults restricting participation in cognitively demanding activities that could ultimately benefit cognitive health. I review supportive research and make the general case for the importance of considering motivational factors in understanding aging effects on cognitive functioning.}, number={4}, journal={PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE}, author={Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2014}, month={Jul}, pages={388–407} }
 @article{hess_queen_ennis_2013, title={Age and Self-Relevance Effects on Information Search During Decision Making}, volume={68}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbs108}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVES
We investigated how information search strategies used to support decision making were influenced by self-related implications of the task to the individual. Consistent with the notion of selective engagement, we hypothesized that increased self-relevance would result in more adaptive search behaviors and that this effect would be stronger in older adults than in younger adults.


METHOD
We examined search behaviors in 79 younger and 81 older adults using a process-tracing procedure with 2 different decision tasks. The impact of motivation (i.e., self-related task implications) was examined by manipulating social accountability and the age-related relevance of the task.


RESULTS
Although age differences in search strategies were not great, older adults were more likely than younger adults to use simpler strategies in contexts with minimal self-implications. Contrary to expectations, young and old alike were more likely to use noncompensatory than compensatory strategies, even when engaged in systematic search, with education being the most important determinant of search behavior.


DISCUSSION
The results support the notion that older adults are adaptive decision makers and that factors other than age may be more important determinants of performance in situations where knowledge can be used to support performance.}, number={5}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Queen, Tara L. and Ennis, Gilda E.}, year={2013}, month={Sep}, pages={703–711} }
 @article{hess_popham_dennis_emery_2013, title={Information Content Moderates Positivity and Negativity Biases in Memory}, volume={28}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/a0031440}, abstractNote={Two experiments examined the impact of encoding conditions and information content in memory for positive, neutral, and negative pictures. We examined the hypotheses that the positivity effect in memory (i.e., a bias in favor of positive or against negative information in later life) would be reduced when (a) pictures were viewed under structured as opposed to unstructured conditions, and (b) contained social as opposed to nonsocial content. Both experiments found that the positivity effect observed with nonsocial stimuli was absent with social stimuli. In addition, little evidence was obtained that encoding conditions affected the strength of the positivity effect. We argue that some types of social stimuli may engage different types of processing than nonsocial stimuli, perhaps encouraging self-referential processing that engages attention and supports memory. This processing may then conflict with the goal-driven, top-down processing that is hypothesized to drive the positivity effect. Thus, our results identify further boundary conditions associated with the positivity effect in memory, arguing that stimulus factors as well as situational goals may affect its occurrence. Further research awaits to determine if this effect is specific to all social stimuli or specific subsets.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Popham, Lauren E. and Dennis, Paul A. and Emery, Lisa}, year={2013}, month={Sep}, pages={853–863} }
 @article{ennis_hess_smith_2013, title={The Impact of Age and Motivation on Cognitive Effort: Implications for Cognitive Engagement in Older Adulthood}, volume={28}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, DOI={10.1037/a0031255}, abstractNote={We examined age differences in the effort required to perform the basic cognitive operations needed to achieve a specified objective outcome, and how hypothesized increases in effort requirements in later life are related to intrinsic motivation associated with enjoyment of and participation in effortful cognitive activities. Young (N = 59; 20-40 years) and older (N = 57; 64-85 years) adults performed a memory-search task varying in difficulty across trials, with systolic blood pressure responsivity-calculated as the increase over baseline during task performance-used as a measure of effort expenditure and task engagement. Consistent with expectations, older adults exhibited greater levels of responsivity (i.e., effort) at all levels of objective task difficulty, and this increase was reflected in subjective perceptions of difficulty. Older adults also exhibited greater levels of disengagement (i.e., effort withdrawal) than younger adults at higher levels of task difficulty, conceivably reflecting the disproportionately greater effort required for successful performance in the former group. We also found that, relative to younger adults, older adults' engagement was more sensitive to the importance attached to the task (i.e., motivation to do well). Finally, we also obtained evidence that increased costs associated with cognitive engagement in later life were negatively associated with intrinsic levels of motivation to engage in effortful cognitive activity. The results support the general conclusion that the costs of cognitive activity increase with age in adulthood, and that these costs influence individuals' willingness to engage resources in support of demanding cognitive activities.}, number={2}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Ennis, Gilda E. and Hess, Thomas M. and Smith, Brian T.}, year={2013}, month={Jun}, pages={495–504} }
 @article{hess_ennis_2012, title={Age Differences in the Effort and Costs Associated With Cognitive Activity}, volume={67}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbr129}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVES
We tested the hypothesis that aging is associated with an increase in the effort and costs associated with cognitive activity using systolic blood pressure (SBP) as a measure of effort.


METHOD
Younger and older adults engaged in an initial task (Phase 1) for 5 min that was relatively low (adding single digits) or high (subtracting by 3 s) in cognitive demands. They then solved a series of multiplication problems for 3 min (Phase 2). Cardiovascular measures were collected throughout, and reactivity was examined as a function of age, initial task difficulty, and test phase.


RESULTS
Older adults exhibited higher levels of reactivity than younger adults to cognitive engagement, with reactivity increasing with task difficulty. Difficulty of the initial task was also associated with greater effort and lower performance on the subsequent multiplication task, suggestive of fatigue or depletion. These fatigue effects were stronger for older adults.


DISCUSSION
The results were consistent with expectations and provided support for the utility of SBP reactivity as a measure of cognitive effort in studies of aging.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Ennis, Gilda E.}, year={2012}, month={Jul}, pages={447–455} }
 @article{queen_hess_ennis_dowd_gruehn_2012, title={Information Search and Decision Making: Effects of Age and Complexity on Strategy Use}, volume={27}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, DOI={10.1037/a0028744}, abstractNote={The impact of task complexity on information search strategy and decision quality was examined in a sample of 135 young, middle-aged, and older adults. We were particularly interested in the competing roles of fluid cognitive ability and domain knowledge and experience, with the former being a negative influence and the latter being a positive influence on older adults' performance. Participants utilized 2 decision matrices, which varied in complexity, regarding a consumer purchase. Using process tracing software and an algorithm developed to assess decision strategy, we recorded search behavior, strategy selection, and final decision. Contrary to expectations, older adults were not more likely than the younger age groups to engage in information-minimizing search behaviors in response to increases in task complexity. Similarly, adults of all ages used comparable decision strategies and adapted their strategies to the demands of the task. We also examined decision outcomes in relation to participants' preferences. Overall, it seems that older adults utilize simpler sets of information primarily reflecting the most valued attributes in making their choice. The results of this study suggest that older adults are adaptive in their approach to decision making and that this ability may benefit from accrued knowledge and experience.}, number={4}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Queen, Tara L. and Hess, Thomas M. and Ennis, Gilda E. and Dowd, Keith and Gruehn, Daniel}, year={2012}, month={Dec}, pages={817–824} }
 @article{hess_popham_emery_elliott_2012, title={Mood, motivation, and misinformation: Aging and affective state influences on memory}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1382-5585"]}, DOI={10.1080/13825585.2011.622740}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Normative age differences in memory have typically been attributed to declines in basic cognitive and cortical mechanisms. The present study examined the degree to which dominant everyday affect might also be associated with age-related memory errors using the misinformation paradigm. Younger and older adults viewed a positive and a negative event, and then were exposed to misinformation about each event. Older adults exhibited a higher likelihood than young adults of falsely identifying misinformation as having occurred in the events. Consistent with expectations, strength of the misinformation effect was positively associated with dominant mood, and controlling for mood eliminated any age effects. Also, motivation to engage in complex cognitive activity was negatively associated with susceptibility to misinformation, and susceptibility was stronger for negative than for positive events. We argue that motivational processes underlie all of the observed effects, and that such processes are useful in understanding age differences in memory performance.}, number={1-2}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Popham, Lauren E. and Emery, Lisa and Elliott, Tonya}, year={2012}, pages={13–34} }
 @article{koher-gruehn_hess_2012, title={The Impact of Age Stereotypes on Self-perceptions of Aging Across the Adult Lifespan}, volume={67}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84866368572&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbr153}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVES
Individuals' perceptions of their own age(ing) are important correlates of well-being and health. The goals of the present study were to (a) examine indicators of self-perceptions of aging across adulthood and (b) experimentally test whether age stereotypes influence self-perceptions of aging.


METHOD
Adults 18-92 years of age were presented with positive, negative, or no age stereotypes. Before and after the stereotype activation, aging satisfaction and subjective age were measured.


RESULTS
The activation of positive age stereotypes did not positively influence self-perceptions of aging. Quite the contrary, priming middle-aged and older adults in good health with positive age stereotypes made them feel older. After the activation of negative age stereotypes, older adults in good health felt older and those in bad health wanted to be younger than before the priming. Even younger and middle-aged adults reported younger desired ages after the negative age stereotype priming. Persons in bad health also thought they looked older after being primed with negative age stereotypes.


DISCUSSION
Taken together, although we find some support for contrast effects, most of our results can be interpreted in terms of assimilation effects, suggesting that individuals integrate stereotypical information into their self-evaluations of age(ing) when confronted with stereotypes.}, number={5}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Koher-Gruehn, Dana and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2012}, month={Sep}, pages={563–571} }
 @article{emery_hess_elliot_2012, title={The illusion of the positive: The impact of natural and induced mood on older adults' false recall}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1382-5585"]}, DOI={10.1080/13825585.2011.645012}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Recent research suggests that affective and motivational processes can influence age differences in memory. In the current study, we examine the impact of both natural and induced mood state on age differences in false recall. Older and younger adults performed a version of the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM; Roediger & McDermott, 1995, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 21, 803) false memory paradigm in either their natural mood state or after a positive or negative mood induction. Results indicated that, after accounting for age differences in basic cognitive function, age-related differences in positive mood during the testing session were related to increased false recall in older adults. Inducing older adults into a positive mood also exacerbated age differences in false memory. In contrast, veridical recall did not appear to be systematically influenced by mood. Together, these results suggest that positive mood states can impact older adults' information processing and potentially increase underlying cognitive age differences.}, number={6}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Emery, Lisa and Hess, Thomas M. and Elliot, Tonya}, year={2012}, pages={677–698} }
 @article{hess_queen_patterson_2012, title={To deliberate or not to deliberate: Interactions between age, task characteristics, and cognitive activity on decision making}, volume={25}, ISSN={["1099-0771"]}, DOI={10.1002/bdm.711}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Queen, Tara L. and Patterson, Taryn R.}, year={2012}, month={Jan}, pages={29–40} }
 @article{emery_hess_2011, title={Cognitive Consequences of Expressive Regulation in Older Adults}, volume={26}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, DOI={10.1037/a0020041}, abstractNote={Previous research has suggested that older and young adults are equally able to regulate their outward expressions of emotion and that the regulation of emotional expression in younger adults results in decreased memory for the emotional stimulus. In the current study, we examined whether older adults show this same memory effect. Older and young adults viewed positive and negative emotional pictures under instructions to view the pictures naturally, enhance their facial expressions, or suppress their facial expressions. Older and young adults showed equivalent outward regulation of expression, but suppressing their emotional expressions led to reduced memory for emotional stimuli only in the young adults. The results suggest that older and young adults are achieving control of their expressions through different mechanisms or strategies.}, number={2}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Emery, Lisa and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2011}, month={Jun}, pages={388–396} }
 @article{hess_emery_neupert_2011, title={Longitudinal Relationships Between Resources, Motivation, and Functioning}, volume={67B}, ISSN={1079-5014 1758-5368}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbr100}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbr100}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVES
We investigated how fluctuations and linear changes in health and cognitive resources influence the motivation to engage in complex cognitive activity and the extent to which motivation mediated the relationship between changing resources and cognitively demanding activities.


METHOD
Longitudinal data from 332 adults aged 20-85 years were examined. Motivation was assessed using a composite of Need for Cognition and Personal Need for Structure and additional measures of health, sensory functioning, cognitive ability, and self-reported activity engagement.


RESULTS
Multilevel modeling revealed that age-typical changes in health, sensory functions, and ability were associated with changes in motivation, with the impact of declining health on motivation being particularly strong in older adulthood. Changes in motivation, in turn, predicted involvement in cognitive and social activities as well as changes in cognitive ability. Finally, motivation was observed to partially mediate the relationship between changes in resources and cognitively demanding activities.


DISCUSSION
Our results suggest that motivation may play an important role in determining the course of cognitive change and involvement in cognitively demanding everyday activities in adulthood.}, number={3}, journal={The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences}, publisher={Oxford University Press (OUP)}, author={Hess, T. M. and Emery, L. and Neupert, S. D.}, year={2011}, month={Sep}, pages={299–308} }
 @article{hess_kotter-gruehn_2011, title={Social Knowledge and Goal-Based Influences on Social Information Processing in Adulthood}, volume={26}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-82955186303&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1037/a0023775}, abstractNote={Effective social functioning is reflected in the ability to accurately characterize other people and then use this information in the service of social goals. To examine this type of social functioning, the authors conducted two studies that investigated potential influences of social experience and chronic socioemotional goals on adults' social judgments in an impression formation task. In line with a social expertise framework, middle-aged and older adults were more sensitive to trait-diagnostic behavioral information than were younger adults. Relative to younger adults, older adults paid more attention to negative than to positive information when it related to morality traits. Increasing the salience of the social context, and presumably activating socioemotional goals, did not alter this pattern of performance. In contrast, when more global social evaluations were examined (e.g., suitability as a social partner), older adults were less likely than younger or middle-aged adults to adjust their evaluations in response to situational goals. Consistent with a heightened focus on socioemotional goals, older adults' judgments were more consistently influenced by their attributions of traits that would likely impact the affective outcomes associated with interpersonal interactions. The results demonstrate the interaction between social knowledge, situational social goals, and chronic socioemotional goals in determining age differences in social information processing.}, number={4}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Kotter-Gruehn, Dana}, year={2011}, month={Dec}, pages={792–802} }
 @article{queen_hess_2010, title={Age Differences in the Effects of Conscious and Unconscious Thought in Decision Making}, volume={25}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/a0018856}, abstractNote={The roles of unconscious and conscious thought in decision making were investigated to examine both (a) boundary conditions associated with the efficacy of each type of thought and (b) age differences in intuitive versus deliberative thought. Participants were presented with 2 decision tasks, one requiring active deliberation and the other intuitive processing. Young and older adults then engaged in conscious or unconscious thought processing before making a decision. A manipulation check revealed that young adults were more accurate in their representations of the decision material than older adults, which accounted for much of the age-related variation in performance when the full sample was considered. When only accurate participants were considered, decision making was best when there was congruence between the nature of the information and the thought condition. Thus, unconscious thought was more appropriate when participants relied on intuitive rather than deliberative processing to make their decision, whereas the converse was true with conscious thought. Although older adults displayed somewhat less efficient deliberative processing, their ability to process information at the intuitive level was relatively preserved. Additionally, both young and older adults displayed choice-supportive memory.}, number={2}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Queen, Tara L. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2010}, month={Jun}, pages={251–261} }
 @article{hess_beale_miles_2010, title={The Impact of Experienced Emotion on Evaluative Judgments: The Effects of Age and Emotion Regulation Style}, volume={17}, ISSN={["1744-4128"]}, DOI={10.1080/13825585.2010.493207}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Adults aged from 24 to 79 were exposed to four commercial advertisements within the context of television programs designed to induce either a positive or negative mood. Although age was associated with memory for the content of the commercials, it did not moderate the impact of mood on evaluations of the advertized products. Instead, participants who reported engaging in expressive suppression as a common emotion regulation strategy were more likely to make evaluations that were biased by moods than those individuals who reported low use of this strategy. The results suggest that the maintenance of emotion regulation ability in later adulthood may help people control certain affective influences on thought.}, number={6}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Beale, Karen S. and Miles, Amanda}, year={2010}, pages={648–672} }
 @article{hess_leclerc_swaim_weatherbee_2009, title={Aging and Everyday Judgments: The Impact of Motivational and Processing Resource Factors}, volume={24}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, DOI={10.1037/a0016340}, abstractNote={It has been hypothesized that reductions in cognitive resources might result in older adults engaging in less systematic processing than young adults when making everyday judgments. In 2 experiments, the authors tested individuals aged from 24 to 89 years to examine the degree to which task-related information associated with more superficial versus complex processing differentially influenced performance. They also examined the hypothesis that motivational factors would moderate age differences in processing complexity. In both studies, there were no age differences in the use of simple versus complex processing. Increasing age was, however, associated with increasing selectivity in cognitive resource engagement.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Leclerc, Christina M. and Swaim, Elizabeth and Weatherbee, Sarah R.}, year={2009}, month={Sep}, pages={735–740} }
 @article{hess_germain_swaim_osowski_2009, title={Aging and Selective Engagement: The Moderating Impact of Motivation on Older Adults' Resource Utilization}, volume={64}, ISSN={["1079-5014"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbp020}, abstractNote={Two studies were conducted to examine age differences in the impact of motivation in a social cognitive task. We tested the hypothesis that aging is associated with an increase in the selective engagement of cognitive resources in support of performance. Different-aged adults read descriptions of 2 people in order to determine which was better suited for a particular job. These descriptions contained behaviors that were either consistent or inconsistent with the job, and participants performed the task under conditions of high versus low accountability. Examination of memory for behavioral information revealed that accountability disproportionately affected older adults' performance, with the locus of this effect being in conscious recollection processes. This supports the aforementioned selective engagement hypothesis by demonstrating that the differential impact of the motivational manipulation was based in deliberative memory processes.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Germain, Cassandra M. and Swaim, Elizabeth L. and Osowski, Nicole L.}, year={2009}, month={Jun}, pages={447–456} }
 @article{hess_hinson_hodges_2009, title={Moderators of and Mechanisms Underlying Stereotype Threat Effects on Older Adults' Memory Performance}, volume={35}, ISSN={["1096-4657"]}, DOI={10.1080/03610730802716413}, abstractNote={Recent research has suggested that negative stereotypes about aging may have a detrimental influence on older adults' memory performance. This study sought to determine whether stereotype-based influences were moderated by age, education, and concerns about being stigmatized. Possible mechanisms underlying these influences on memory performance were also explored. The memory performance of adults aged 60 to 70 years and 71 to 82 years was examined under conditions designed to induce or eliminate stereotype threat. Threat was found to have a greater impact on performance in the young-old than in the old-old group, whereas the opposite was observed for the effects of stigma consciousness. In both cases, the effects were strongest for those with higher levels of education. Further analyses found little evidence in support of the mediating roles of affective responses or working memory. The only evidence of mediation was found with respect to recall predictions, suggesting a motivational basis of threat effects on performance. These findings highlight the specificity of stereotype threat effects in later adulthood as well as possible mechanisms underlying such effects.}, number={2}, journal={EXPERIMENTAL AGING RESEARCH}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Hinson, Joey T. and Hodges, Elizabeth A.}, year={2009}, pages={153–177} }
 @article{hess_emery_queen_2009, title={Task Demands Moderate Stereotype Threat Effects on Memory Performance}, volume={64}, ISSN={["1079-5014"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/gbp044}, abstractNote={Previous research has demonstrated that older adults' memory performance is adversely affected by the explicit activation of negative stereotypes about aging. In this study, we examined the impact of stereotype threat on recognition memory, with specific interest in (a) the generalizability of previously observed effects, (b) the subjective experience of memory, and (c) the moderating effects of task demands. Older participants subjected to threat performed worse than did those in a nonthreat condition but only when performance constraints were high (i.e., memory decisions had to be made within a limited time frame). This effect was reflected in the subjective experience of memory, with participants in this condition having a lower ratio of "remember" to "know" responses. The absence of threat effects when constraints were minimal provides important boundary information regarding stereotype influences on memory performance.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Emery, Lisa and Queen, Tara L.}, year={2009}, month={Jun}, pages={482–486} }
 @article{peters_diefenbach_hess_vastfjall_2008, title={Age Differences in Dual Information-processing Modes Implications for Cancer Decision Making}, volume={113}, ISSN={["1097-0142"]}, DOI={10.1002/cncr.23944}, abstractNote={Age differences in affective/experiential and deliberative processes have important theoretical implications for cancer decision making, as cancer is often a disease of older adulthood. The authors examined evidence for adult age differences in affective and deliberative information processes, reviewed the sparse evidence about age differences in decision making, and introduced how dual process theories and their findings might be applied to cancer decision making. Age-related declines in the efficiency of deliberative processes predict poorer-quality decisions as we age, particularly when decisions are unfamiliar and the information is numeric. However, age-related adaptive processes, including an increased focus on emotional goals and greater experience, can influence decision making and potentially offset age-related declines. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie cancer decision processes in our aging population should ultimately allow us to help older adults to better help themselves.}, number={12}, journal={CANCER}, author={Peters, Ellen and Diefenbach, Michael A. and Hess, Thomas M. and Vastfjall, Daniel}, year={2008}, month={Dec}, pages={3556–3567} }
 @article{emery_hess_2008, title={Viewing instructions impact emotional memory differently in older and young adults}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/0882-7974.23.1.2}, abstractNote={The current study examines how the instructions given during picture viewing impact age differences in incidental emotional memory. Previous research has suggested that older adults' memory may be better when they make emotional rather than perceptual evaluations of stimuli and that their memory may show a positivity bias in tasks with open-ended viewing instructions. Across two experiments, participants viewing photographs either received open-ended instructions or were asked to make emotionally focused (Experiment 1) or perceptually focused (Experiment 2) evaluations. Emotional evaluations had no impact on older adults' memory, whereas perceptual evaluations reduced older adults' recall of emotional, but not of neutral, pictures. Evidence for the positivity effect was sporadic and was not easier to detect with open-ended viewing instructions. These results suggest that older adults' memory is best when the material to be remembered is emotionally evocative and they are allowed to process it as such.}, number={1}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Emery, Lisa and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2008}, month={Mar}, pages={2–12} }
 @article{leclerc_hess_2007, title={Age differences in the bases for social judgments: Tests of a social expertise perspective}, volume={33}, ISSN={["0361-073X"]}, DOI={10.1080/03610730601006446}, abstractNote={Research indicates that increasing age is associated with greater use of trait-diagnostic behavioral information in making social judgments. These effects may reflect an aging-related increase in social expertise, indicative of more powerful and accessible knowledge structures. The current work is an attempt to provide further evidence in support of the social expertise view and a test of an alternative hypothesis. Results of this work indicate that age differences in the use of trait-diagnostic information were moderated by factors thought to affect the accessibility of relevant knowledge structures.}, number={1}, journal={EXPERIMENTAL AGING RESEARCH}, author={Leclerc, Christina M. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2007}, pages={95–120} }
 @article{germain_hess_2007, title={Motivational influences on controlled processing: Moderating distractibility in older adults}, volume={14}, ISSN={["1744-4128"]}, DOI={10.1080/13825580600611302}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Research has suggested that aging is associated with a decline in the efficiency of controlling processing operations. Three studies examined the moderating impact of personal relevance on age differences in one index of such operations: the ability to ignore distracting information. Young (17–26) and older (58–86) adults read a series of passages interspersed with irrelevant, distracting information, with the relevance of the passage content to these two age groups being systematically varied. For both groups, processing was more efficient and comprehension enhanced when passage relevance was high. These effects were particularly strong among older adults, a finding consistent with a growing body of data highlighting the importance of motivational factors in determining age differences in cognitive performance.}, number={5}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Germain, Cassandra M. and Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2007}, pages={462–486} }
 @article{hess_2006, title={Adaptive aspects of social cognitive functioning in adulthood: Age-related goal and knowledge influences}, volume={24}, ISSN={["0278-016X"]}, DOI={10.1521/soco.2006.24.3.279}, abstractNote={The study of development from the lifespan perspective focuses on the adaptive aspects of human behavior. It is argued that a social cognitive perspective may be useful in examining and understanding adaptive aspects of behavior in everyday contexts across adulthood. Research conducted by Hess and colleagues has provided support for this assertion, demonstrating that age in adulthood is associated with increased selectivity in engagement of cognitive resources and the development of expert social knowledge. Both of these processes can be viewed as adaptive outcomes associated with changing circumstances and experience associated with age. Implications of this research for both the study of aging and of social cognition are discussed. An important focus of social psychological research has been on examining processes associated with people’s understanding of social situations. These have been of particular interest to those taking a social cognitive perspective, where such processes have been examined in the context of research on, for example, attribution, person perception, impression formation, and attitude change. The importance of such research is based in the belief that understanding social reasoning and representational processes}, number={3}, journal={SOCIAL COGNITION}, author={Hess, Thomas M.}, year={2006}, month={Jun}, pages={279–309} }
 @article{hess_hinson_2006, title={Age-related variation in the influences of aging stereotypes on memory in adulthood}, volume={21}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/0882-7974.21.3.621}, abstractNote={Adults 24-86 years of age read positive or negative information about aging and memory prior to a memory test. The impact of this information on recall performance varied with age. Performance in the youngest and oldest participants was minimally affected by stereotype activation. Adults in their 60s exhibited weak effects consistent with the operation of stereotype threat, whereas middle-age adults exhibited a contrast effect in memory performance, suggestive of stereotype lift. Beliefs about aging and memory were also affected by stereotypic information, and older adults' changed beliefs were more important in predicting performance than was exposure to stereotype-based information alone.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, Thomas M. and Hinson, Joey T.}, year={2006}, month={Sep}, pages={621–625} }
 @article{hess_osowski_leclerc_2005, title={Age and experience influences on the complexity of social inferences}, volume={20}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, DOI={10.1037/0882-7974.20.3.447}, abstractNote={Age differences in social-cognitive functioning were assessed by examining sensitivity to the trait implications of behavioral cues when making social inferences. Adults (age range = 23-86 years) read target descriptions containing positive and negative behaviors relating to either morality or competence. Consistent with past research, middle-aged and older adults were more likely than younger adults to make inferences consistent with the trait-diagnostic implications of the behaviors. Age was also associated with increased sensitivity to additional cues that moderated the diagnostic value of behaviors based on simple descriptive content. The authors argue that these age differences reflect a type of expertise based in accumulated social experience, a conclusion bolstered by an additional finding that social activity moderated age differences in social judgments.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, TM and Osowski, NL and Leclerc, CM}, year={2005}, month={Sep}, pages={447–459} }
 @article{hess_germain_rosenberg_leclerc_hodges_2005, title={Aging-related selectivity and susceptibility to irrelevant affective information}, volume={12}, ISSN={["1744-4128"]}, DOI={10.1080/13825580590925170}, abstractNote={Abstract Two experiments were conducted to examine the hypothesis that aging is associated with an increase in the selectivity associated with task engagement and related cognitive resource allocation. Adults ranging in age from 20 to 83 years were asked to provide attitude ratings about fictitious political program proposals that varied in terms of personal relevance. Of primary interest was the extent to which these attitude ratings would be influenced by the likability of the individual (i.e., source) responsible for the programs. Consistent with expectations, older adults were more likely than younger adults to provide attitude ratings consistent with the likableness of the source, with this effect being moderated by need for structure and personal relevance. The findings are supportive of the general argument that older adults are able to monitor and control the impact of irrelevant information on performance, but are most likely to engage in such operations in situations of high meaningfulness. Younger adults exhibit similar effects, but the variability across levels of meaningfulness increases with age, a pattern consistent with an aging-related increase in selectivity.}, number={2}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Hess, TM and Germain, CM and Rosenberg, DC and Leclerc, CM and Hodges, EA}, year={2005}, month={Jun}, pages={149–174} }
 @article{auman_bosworth_hess_2005, title={Effect of health-related stereotypes on physiological responses of hypertensive middle-aged and older men}, volume={60}, ISSN={["1758-5368"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/60.1.p3}, abstractNote={This study examined the influence of health stereotypes on stress response among middle-aged and older men. It was hypothesized that anxiety and cardiovascular reactivity would increase when health stereotypes were activated among veterans seeking care in an outpatient setting. Among a sample of 122 veteran patients with hypertension, the level of stereotype activation varied by means of reference to either their health status (health stereotypes) or, conversely, some personally valued leisure activities (no stereotype activation). Predicted stereotype-related increases in anxiety, galvanized skin conductance, and blood pressure were evident. Potential explanations for these results are explored, including those relating to the negative health stereotypes associated with being a patient.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Auman, C and Bosworth, HB and Hess, TM}, year={2005}, month={Jan}, pages={P3–P10} }
 @misc{hess_2005, title={Memory and aging in context}, volume={131}, ISSN={["1939-1455"]}, DOI={10.1037/0033-2909.131.3.383}, abstractNote={Much research has indicated that aging is accompanied by decrements in memory performance across a wide variety of tasks and situations. A dominant perspective is that these age differences reflect normative changes in the integrity and efficiency of the information-processing system. Contextual perspectives of development, however, argue for consideration of a broader constellation of factors as determinants of both intraindividual change and interindividual variation in memory functioning. The validity of the contextual perspective in characterizing the relationship between aging and memory is examined through a review of studies exploring a variety of alternative mechanisms associated with age differences in performance. It is concluded that a more multidimensional approach to the study of aging and memory is warranted.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGICAL BULLETIN}, author={Hess, TM}, year={2005}, month={May}, pages={383–406} }
 @article{hess_hinson_statham_2004, title={Explicit and implicit stereotype activation effects on memory: Do age and awareness moderate the impact of priming?}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/0882-7974.19.3.495}, abstractNote={Two studies examined the effects of implicit and explicit priming of aging stereotypes. Implicit primes had a significant effect on older adults' memory, with positive primes associated with greater recall than negative primes. With explicit primes, older adults were able to counteract the impact of negative stereotypes when the cues were relatively subtle, but blatant stereotype primes suppressed performance regardless of prime type. No priming effects under either presentation condition were obtained for younger adults, indicating that the observed implicit effects are specific to those for whom the stereotype is self-relevant. Findings emphasize the importance of social-situational factors in determining older adults' memory performance and contribute to the delineation of situations under which stereotypes are most influential.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, TM and Hinson, JT and Statham, JA}, year={2004}, month={Sep}, pages={495–505} }
 @article{hess_auman_colcombe_rahhal_2003, title={The impact of stereotype threat on age differences in memory performance}, volume={58}, ISSN={["1079-5014"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/58.1.P3}, abstractNote={This study investigated the hypothesis that age differences in memory performance may be influenced by stereotype threat associated with negative cultural beliefs about the impact of aging on memory. Recall was examined in 48 young and 48 older adults under conditions varying in the degree of induced threat. Conditions that maximize threat resulted in lower performance in older adults relative to both younger adults and to older adults who did not experience threat. The degree to which threat affected older adults' performance increased along with the value that these individuals placed on their memory ability. Older adults' memory performance across experimental conditions was observed to covary with degree of activation of the negative aging stereotype, providing support for the hypothesized relationship between stereotype activation and performance. Finally, stereotype threat also influenced mnemonic strategy use, which in turn partially mediated the impact of threat on recall. These results emphasize the important role played by contextual factors in determining age differences in memory performance.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, TM and Auman, C and Colcombe, SJ and Rahhal, TA}, year={2003}, month={Jan}, pages={P3–P11} }
 @article{follett_hess_2002, title={Aging, cognitive complexity, and the fundamental attribution error}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1079-5014"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/57.4.P312}, abstractNote={Age differences in the prevalence and underpinnings of the fundamental attribution error were examined. Young, middle-aged, and older adults observed an actor providing responses to questions about political issues. In the no-choice condition, the actor was instructed how to respond, whereas in the choice condition, he was allowed to select his response. Consistent with previous research, middle-aged adults were less prone to the fundamental attribution error than were young and older adults. This was evidenced by their reduced tendency to make attitude attributions in the no-choice condition relative to the choice condition. Although high levels of both cognitive and attributional complexity were associated with reductions in attributional bias, complexity did not systematically account for the between-age-group differences in performance. It is suggested that the observed pattern of age effects is related to variations in both cognitive complexity and cognitive resources.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Follett, KJ and Hess, TM}, year={2002}, month={Jul}, pages={P312–P323} }
 @article{hess_2001, title={Ageing-related influences on personal need for structure}, volume={25}, ISSN={["0165-0254"]}, DOI={10.1080/01650250042000429}, abstractNote={ The need for structure construct was examined in relation to adult age using the Personal Need for Structure scale (PNS; M.M. Thompson, M.E. Naccarato, & K. Parker, 1989). The results of a series of confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the two intercorrelated-factor structure of the PNS scale held up well across individuals aged 21 to 85, validating its use for the examination of ageing effects. Structural equation modelling analyses found that ageing was associated with lower levels of physical health and cognitive skill, which in turn were related to higher PNS scores. It was also found, however, that the impact of reductions in these resources on need for structure were counteracted by high levels of social activity and emotional health. The argument is made that ageing-related changes in personal resources impact everyday behaviour through changes in motivation, such as need for structure. }, number={6}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT}, author={Hess, TM}, year={2001}, month={Nov}, pages={482–490} }
 @article{hess_auman_2001, title={Aging and social expertise: The impact of trait-diagnostic information on impressions of others}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1939-1498"]}, DOI={10.1037/0882-7974.16.3.497}, abstractNote={Two studies were conducted to examine the bases for age differences in the construction of social inferences. In each study, adults aged from 20 to 80 years were presented with an impression formation task in which they first read brief behavioral descriptions of fictitious people and then made a trait inference and likability judgment about each person. Results were generally consistent with previous findings in showing that aging was associated with an increase in the weighting of trait-diagnostic information in making trait attributions. In addition, the pattern of age effects was only minimally affected by situational factors that have been known to influence the use of trait-diagnostic information. The findings are interpreted as demonstrating an aging-related increase in social expertise in which knowledge regarding the underlying bases for the behaviors of others has been translated in specific procedural knowledge.}, number={3}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, TM and Auman, C}, year={2001}, month={Sep}, pages={497–510} }
 @article{hess_rosenberg_waters_2001, title={Motivation and representation processes in adulthood: The effects of social accountability and information relevance}, volume={16}, DOI={10.1037//0882-7974.16.4.629}, number={4}, journal={Psychology and Aging}, author={Hess, T. M. and Rosenberg, D. C. and Waters, S. J.}, year={2001}, pages={629–642} }
 @article{hess_waters_bolstad_2000, title={Motivational and cognitive influences on affective priming in adulthood}, volume={55}, ISSN={["1079-5014"]}, DOI={10.1093/geronb/55.4.P193}, abstractNote={This research examined age differences in the impact of affective primes on judgments about neutral stimuli. When participants were unaware that the primes had been presented, age differences were nonexistent, with individuals of all ages producing likability judgments consistent with the valence of the prime. In contrast, when awareness of the primes was maximized, prime influences were virtually nonexistent in the youngest participants, but prime influences increased with participants' age. In addition, the impact of the primes was differentially affected by an individual's need for simple structure. Need for structure did not influence the performance of young and middle-aged participants, but prime effects increased with need in the oldest participants. It is argued that the stronger predictive validity of need for structure with age is due to aging-related changes in personal resources (both social and cognitive) and/or a closer mapping of individual characteristics onto need with age. Regardless of source, the results argue for closer consideration of motivational factors in determining age differences in performance.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES}, author={Hess, TM and Waters, SJ and Bolstad, CA}, year={2000}, month={Jul}, pages={P193–P204} }
 @book{hess_blanchard-fields_1999, title={Social cognition and aging}, ISBN={0123452600}, publisher={San Diego, CA; London: Academic Press}, author={Hess, T. M. and Blanchard-Fields, F.}, year={1999} }
 @article{hess_bolstad_woodburn_auman_1999, title={Trait diagnosticity versus behavioral consistency as determinants of impression change in adulthood}, volume={14}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, DOI={10.1037/0882-7974.14.1.77}, abstractNote={Age differences in the types of processing associated with impression change were examined. Young, middle-aged, and older adults formed an impression of a target based on a short vignette that described either positive or negative characteristics in 1 of 2 domains (ability vs. morality). Impression change was examined after presentation of additional behavioral information that was inconsistent with the original vignette. Replicating previous findings, younger adults changed their impressions in response to the consistency of the new information with the initial target description. In contrast, impression change in the 2 older groups was based on the trait diagnosticity of the original and new information, suggesting greater use of inferential, knowledge-based processing with age. The results indicate that qualitative difference exist in impression change processes, with different-aged individuals considering different types of information when constructing and updating social representations.}, number={1}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, TM and Bolstad, CA and Woodburn, SM and Auman, C}, year={1999}, month={Mar}, pages={77–89} }
 @article{hess_mcgee_woodburn_bolstad_1998, title={Age-related priming effects in social judgments}, volume={13}, ISSN={["0882-7974"]}, DOI={10.1037/0882-7974.13.1.127}, abstractNote={Two experiments investigated adult age differences in the impact of previously activated (and thus easily accessible) trait-related information on judgments about people. The authors hypothesized that age-related declines in the efficiency of controlled processing mechanisms during adulthood would be associated with increased susceptibility to judgment biases associated with such information. In each study, different-aged adults made impression judgments about a target, and assimilation of these judgments to trait constructs activated in a previous, unrelated task were examined. Consistent with the authors' hypotheses, older adults were likely to form impressions that were biased toward the primed trait constructs. In contrast, younger adults exhibited greater awareness of the primed information and were more likely to correct for its perceived influence, especially when distinctive contextual cues regarding the source of the primes were available.}, number={1}, journal={PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING}, author={Hess, TM and McGee, KA and Woodburn, SM and Bolstad, CA}, year={1998}, month={Mar}, pages={127–137} }
 @article{hess_bolstad_1998, title={Category-based versus attribute-based processing in different-aged adults}, volume={5}, ISSN={["1744-4128"]}, DOI={10.1076/anec.5.1.27.24}, abstractNote={Adaptive social functioning requires flexibility in processing operations in response to the characteristics of specific situations. Three experiments were conducted in which the ability of different-aged adults to appropriately use category-based versus attribute-based information in making affective judgments was examined. Contrary to expectations, we found that performance was minimally related to age or to working memory efficiency. Adults of all ages made affective judgments based on category information when such information resulted in appropriate inferences, whereas attribute-based information was used when category-based inferences were inaccurate. We interpret these results to be consistent with the hypothesis that the processing of evaluative information occurs at a preconscious level with little drain on processing resources.}, number={1}, journal={AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION}, author={Hess, TM and Bolstad, CA}, year={1998}, month={Mar}, pages={27–42} }